This summer, I have some great children’s videos to share with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as my little viewers did-or even as much as I, the adult, did.
So here you go, the top ten children’s videos of 2008 (at least in my opinion):
64 Zoo Lane
Ages: 2 to 5
64 Zoo Lane is a fantastically cute cartoon about a little girl named Lucy and her playground, the zoo. Lucy lives on 64 Zoo Lane which just so happens to be right next door to the local zoo-and by next door, I mean within hands reach. Every night, when the adults go to bed, Lucy sneaks out of her bedroom by sliding down the neck of her friend, Georgina, the giraffe. Once in the zoo, Lucy hangs out with all the zoo animals and has adventures children only dream of.
Barney: Hi! I’m Riff!
Ages: 2 to 5
Hi! I’m Riff! is about Barney’s new friend, Riff, a Hadrosaur dinosaur. Riff is six year old and just moved into the neighborhood. He loves music, singing, and friends-lots of friends. But being in a new town is hard for Riff so he decides to start a new club, a Best Friends Club. Only things aren’t as easy as he’d hope and he learns a few new things about friendship.
Bob The Builder: Let’s Build The Beach
Ages: 2 to 5
Let’s Build The Beach takes Bob and his buddies to Bobland Bay where they help get the place ready for the grand opening. Bob also brings along two new crew members to help get the job done: Bristle, the pavement cleaner, and Splasher, the touring vehicle. But these crew members are in for some valuable life lessons as they learn the importance of communication. There are 5 episodes on this 46 minute DVD.
Thomas & Friends: Engines and Escapades
Ages: 2 to 5
Seriously, what’s not to love about Thomas The Train and his friends. Every new episode is as entertaining as the last. You’d think that there’d only be so many stories one could tell on a train track and with trains, but alas you’d be mistaken. In Engines and Escapades, you’ll join the Narrow Gauge engines and their new friend, Madge (a snobby truck) as they learn one lesson after another. Lessons like following through with what you start, keeping promises, finding the fun in recycling, and overcoming fear. There are seven episodes on this DVD.
Fireman Sam: To The Rescue!
Ages: 2 to 5
Fireman Sam is a British children’s show. Fireman Sam and his fire brigade help put out fires in Pontypandy village and in the process, teach the town mischief a few valuable lessons about life and fire safety. There are five episodes on this DVD.
Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse, Volume 1
Ages: 2 to 7
Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse is an education video designed to help kids learn to express themselves with voice and body movements. Each episode is designed to help children use their manners when asking for things, learn ways to calm down when they feel out of control or aren’t getting their way, and how to identify what they are feeling when they are feeling it. This DVD was actually designed for kids with autism, but could be a blessing to families everywhere. There’s also a bonus section that includes 40 minutes of parent teaching tools.
Loopdidoo
Ages: 2 to 7
Loopdidoo is 85 minutes of pure fun. Loopdidoo is a funny dog who loves adventure so much that even the simplest of situations turns into an adventure. There are 13 episodes on this DVD.
Pingu On Thin Ice
Ages: 2 to 7
Pingu is a penguin living in the South Pole where he discovers one comical mishap after another. Pingu speaks, but not a language anyone we know can understand. Much like the antics of Tom & Jerry, Pingu doesn’t need words to be funny. There’s 59 minutes of laughter on this DVD with 7 episodes.
Trip Flix
Ages: 5 to 12
Trip Flix is a coast-to-coast interactive tour of the United States. Besides tagging along on Emily and Alex’s kid-friendly vacation, you get to participate in several trivia questions designed to educate you on all fifty states. You’ll discover lots of fun, non-important facts about each state, as well as interesting places you probably didn’t know existed.
Meet the Sight Words
Ages: 15 months to 6 years
Meet the Sight Words is all about learning how to read words that phonics can’t help one decipher. Words like, of, play, it, he, you, in, I, to , have, and, a, said, is, the, for, and that. But it’s more than just memorizing words, it’s about recognizing them and having fun doing it. I just love the video flashcards. I was big on using flashcards when my children were younger. I truly believe they do wonders, whether it’s reading, math, or recognition.