One of Tommy’s very first almost-sentences was at around 16 months: “Ecka, bloo, awoun, awoun.” (For those not fluent in Tommyese, that’s “The blue record is going around and around the turntable, mother.”)

Now just one month shy of 2, he’s more likely to say, “Thinking about Electric Light Orchestra. Play Kinks record! ‘Victoria! Victooooooooria!’ That record has a yellow label! Most records are black. No one’s in the record store. Van Halen! Van Halen record!”

And yes, he’s said all of those things in one breath before. On neighborhood walks, he’s been known to greet complete strangers with friendly declarations of, “Van Halen record!” He wants to share his Van Halen love with the world, I suppose, and bless him for it, as I think he’s pretty much alone in that mission.

Tommy spends a lot of his time thumbing through my husband’s massive record collection and selecting his favorites, sometimes based on the cover sleeve art, sometimes because he recognizes the logo of some obscure mid-80s Swedish metal band. And since we’ve temporarily banned TV (how’s that going, you ask? Delightfully well, actually!), it seems we spend even more time playing records.

Tommy listens to what we listen to. He knows classic children’s tunes that we dredge up from memory, but with the exception of a few well-worn gifts of lullaby records (and one novelty children’s CD featuring ridiculous songs about The Hulk that we couldn’t resist), we don’t own any music specifically recorded for children. Well, not modern music, anyway. We’re the proud owner of “TV Jamboree: 16 Great Songs from Ten Top Children’s Favorite Shows,” a record produced in 1958 by A.A. Records, Inc. If we ever need to hear music from Howdy Doody, Wagon Train or Rin-Tin-Tin, we’re set.

I don’t think Tommy is lacking. So he doesn’t know the Barney song about everyone loving each other. So he likes to sing along with The Ohio Express’ “Yummy Yummy Yummy I Got Love in My Tummy.” No real damage done, right?

I thought I’d share a few of Tommy’s frequent requests, in case you are buried beneath repeat listens of Barney songs and would like a change.

• The Kinks: “Victoria”

Tommy and I belt this out together at full volume. I think we should start a Kinks cover band.

• The Free Design: “Kites are Fun”

This song is unbelievably poppy and sweet, and is perfect for children. “See my kite, it’s fun. See my kite, it’s green and white! Laughing in its distant light!” Oh, OK.

• The Roches: “The Hammond Song”

The three sisters’ folksy harmonies are nothing short of glorious as they sing about lost opportunities and the problems of going back home. The words may be heavy, but the music is soaring, especially when accompanied by a toddler’s tiny voice.

• Electric Light Orchestra: “Yours Truly, 2095”

I enjoy the tortured angst of Jeff Lynn considering the robotic girlfriend he is forced to live with in the future while missing his true love stuck in 1981. Tommy just wants to dance.

• Krokus: “Our Love”

I’m not sure why he likes this so much. I think, honestly, it has something to do with the fact that the record’s vinyl is clear. He dances like a madman as soon as he hears those drums, though.

• Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass: “Spanish Flea”

Tommy has an abiding love for this song. At this point, I think it’s a spiritual thing. I used to sing it to him a lot, substituting the following lyrics: “You’ve got to chew, chew, chew your food. You’ve got to chew, chew, chew your fooooood…”

• Slayer: “Raining Blood”

The husband likes metal. The boy likes metal. It was in the stars.