Interview: Kathryn the Grape’s ‘STOP SLOW GO’ Fuses Education & Fun

Kathryn Cloward is a self-made woman in more ways than one. To some, she is a media executive, the founder and CEO of Kandon Unlimited. To others, she is a best-selling author and poet. But with the Grammy Awards on the horizon, Kathryn is perhaps most well-known by her alter ego, Kathryn the Grape, around which she has built a successful following on YouTube and beyond, self-funding over six children’s music albums intended to uplift and empower young people.

STOP SLOW GO is the latest entry in Kathryn’s catalogue, and it uses the imagery of a traffic light as a framework for teaching kids about emotional regulation.

“I love making important concepts simple, relatable, and fun for children,” says Kathryn. “Traffic signals are something children already recognize, so I use them to help children understand the signals their bodies give them about how they’re feeling.”

Many of us can likely recall the red-yellow-green structure being applied across all kinds of educational principles as a child, a concept rooted in actual social-emotional research. As a certified Social-Emotional Character Development Instructor through Rutgers University, Kathryn ensures her work is consistently rooted in that kind of research, and the title track on STOP SLOW GO just might mark her most carefully executed song yet.

“The song incorporates three of the five CASEL competencies for social-emotional learning: self-management, self-awareness, and responsible decision-making,” she says. “That’s three important SEL competencies woven into one fun, interactive song.”

Beyond her passion for children’s music and education, Kathryn is eager to share her personal entrepreneurial journey with other ambitious women, particularly those struggling to balance their own goals with the very important task of raising their own children.

“I think it’s important to talk about the realities many women in music experience while blazing their own trails as writers, producers, performers, entrepreneurs, and breadwinners,” she says. “We’re building careers, funding our dreams, and caring for our families simultaneously. It’s a perspective that deserves more attention in our industry, and I’m proud of the path I’ve created.”

Check out our full conversation with the multitalented Kathryn Cloward below!

Hi Kathryn! STOP SLOW GO is centered around helping children understand their emotions. What inspired you to use a traffic light as the framework for teaching emotional regulation?

I love making important concepts simple, relatable, and fun for children. Traffic signals are something children already recognize, so I use them to help children understand the signals their bodies give them about how they’re feeling. The lyrics say, “Red means stop, don’t go. Yellow means slow until you know. Green means yes, I’m good to go.” Red represents emotions that signal us to stop, yellow reminds us to slow down and decide what to do next, and green represents feel-good emotions that help us move forward. “STOP SLOW GO” is a fun, interactive song that gives children a practical tool for developing emotional awareness and self-regulation skills.

The album uses music to introduce social-emotional learning concepts. Why do you believe music can be such a powerful tool for helping children process and understand their emotions?

Music naturally engages children through rhythm, repetition, and movement. I intentionally combine meaningful lyrics, upbeat arrangements, and interactive hand motions to make learning fun and memorable. When children are having fun, they’re engaged, and when they’re engaged, they’re more receptive to learning. I recently performed a couple of school assemblies where more than 400 students were enthusiastically singing “STOP SLOW GO” and doing the hand motions together. Seeing that level of participation while introducing important emotional awareness tools is exactly why I do what I do. It works!

As someone who has spent years working in children’s media and social-emotional learning, what do you think adults sometimes misunderstand about the way children experience emotions?

Children experience big emotions just like adults do, but they’re still developing the skills to understand and navigate those feelings. I think it’s important to remember that social-emotional learning isn’t just for children. Adults need these tools too! We can’t expect children to develop emotional awareness and mindfulness if we’re modeling reactivity or dismissing their feelings. All feelings are okay, and it’s what we choose to do with those feelings that matters. If we want a more compassionate and harmonious world, we all need to practice the same tools we’re teaching our children. That’s exactly what the songs on my STOP SLOW GO album are designed to help us do.

Was there a particular song or moment on STOP SLOW GO that felt especially meaningful to you while creating the album?

The title track is especially meaningful because I created it to address a need I consistently see among educators and parents: helping children develop emotional self-regulation skills. The song incorporates three of the five CASEL competencies for social-emotional learning: self-management, self-awareness, and responsible decision-making. That’s three important SEL competencies woven into one fun, interactive song. I’m a certified Social-Emotional Character Development Instructor through Rutgers University and currently pursuing my Master’s in Education with dual certification in Social-Emotional Learning and Autism. I love bringing together my academic studies, lived experiences, and over 16 years in children’s media with what I learn directly from children to create music that is both purposeful and fun.

You’ve built your career largely through your own entrepreneurial efforts. How has being an independent, self-funded creator shaped the way you approach your music?

Being an independent, self-funded artist has taught me to be intentional with my creativity, finances, and time. For Kathryn the Grape, I’ve independently funded six music albums, 30 published illustrated books, and over 125 YouTube videos, while also being a breadwinner providing for my son and me. That means making thoughtful decisions about where to invest, when to say yes, and when to say no.

I’ve intentionally grown my career at a pace that allowed me to prioritize raising my son and being present for him. I’ve turned down industry conferences and networking opportunities because traveling meant losing income, and I’ve chosen to perform regionally in Southern California rather than tour nationally because being home mattered to me.

Now that my son is in college, new opportunities are opening up. I think it’s important to talk about the realities many women in music experience while blazing their own trails as writers, producers, performers, entrepreneurs, and breadwinners. We’re building careers, funding our dreams, and caring for our families simultaneously. It’s a perspective that deserves more attention in our industry, and I’m proud of the path I’ve created.

STOP SLOW GO is now in contention for Best Children’s Album at the Grammy Awards. What would that recognition mean to you personally and professionally?

Being recognized by my peers in the Recording Academy would be incredibly meaningful. I’ve dedicated years to creating music that helps children develop social-emotional skills, build confidence, and know they matter. These are essential life skills that connect us through our shared human experience, and every child deserves opportunities to develop them. This recognition would mean so much to my Kathryn the Grape community of parents, grandparents, caregivers, and educators who have embraced my music, along with the talented team who brings my creative vision to life. Most importantly, it would help amplify our collective Kathryn the Grape mission of making joyful, purposeful music that supports social-emotional learning accessible to more children and families.