My toddler has been watching limited television for about three months. All we own is "The Laurie Berkner Band" DVD, which she loves but is starting to grow old. I have tried taping "Jack's Big Music Show" but she isn't quite ready to watch a narrative style show- she just wants to watch music and dancing. Does anyone have any suggestions for another music-based DVD compliment to Laurie Berkner? If I hear "Victor Vito" one more time I may go nuts!
Our son LOVES The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh. He's watching it right now. Also Baby Einstein videos I hear are great.
When I was pregnant, I promised myself that I would never own a Barney or Wiggles video. Well, The Wiggles are actually quite cool - get their stage show DVDs, not the TV shows. My four-year old has loved them - I only had CDs of them until she was about three, so she got a kick when she first saw a video. And yes, I have actually partied with The Wiggles duiring their DC show. However, I still won't go near Barney.
For future reference, Dora and Blue's Clues are pretty good and engages the two year old crowd.
Veggie Tales are our family favorite. They have music in the story and many have a silly song mid-way through the story. They also have entire collections of silly songs. They are value based so even though some of the stories are a little silly they have a moral lesson. this makes these a video that she can enjoy and learn from for several years.
Baby Einstein DVDs!!! and introduction to classic music and they are awesome, my kids are 4 and 7 and still enjoy them,
Rachel
While I personally got to the point where they drove me nuts (it did take several months), both of my kids loved the Baby Songs videos. They are all music (no narrative at all) and the videos that go with the songs are of little kids. They loved watching the babies and singing the songs.
little einstein and backyardigans possibly the wiggles.
Try Bunny Town on Disney. It is produced by the same people that produced Jacks Big Music Show, its got a story line, but its not too long, and the music style is similar. The only difference is there is no music break to any videos from others! Also, if your daughter is into music, try Rocknoceros, they are local from here, and play and Jammin Java every Wednesday, but recently I found them On Demand, Freezone on Cox Cable. They are GREAT!!! just google them and you should find a bunch of things!!!
Hi Brooke,
Here are some web sites for DVD's:
http://www.musicaltoysplus.com/toddlermusic.htm
http://cd.co.uk/children_dance_music_for_toddlers_various_artists_5864592
There are also Kindermusik classes in some areas.
Hope this helps. Good luck. Donna
Hi Brooke,
Baby Eistein are wonderful - my three year olds (twins) still love watching them.
Tiffany A.
I have lots of suggestions (because I think I may have every DVD known to man!). The Wiggles are always a huge hit, and Barney, if you can take it :)
Curious Buddies, Dora (Diego may be a little old for her), Blues Clues, Bear in the Big Blue House, Sesame Street makes lots of different ones. Also, if you get the cable channel, Noggin, pretty much every show on there is great (and no toy commercials!).
If you're looking for music CDs, try Dan Zanes. He's our personal favorite, and you'll still sound cool driving down the road :)
Brooke, Great topic, thanks!
Two questions, are you up to date on the "side effects" of watching TV at such an early age? Are you willing to take the risk with your child?
Over 9 years ago, I did a speech at Toastmasters on the impact of TV watching on kids and even back than the evidence was stacked up against it - very eye-opening. Why don't you do a quick search on "tv watching for toddlers" and check out the latest findings, consider your long term goal with your tolddler (18yrs); then make your decision about the next DVD....
I work in the wellness industry now and it is alarming the practices/choices we do and their shocking impact to our kids physical and emotional wellness - attention problems, obesity, heart disease, decreased life span, etc.
All of our everyday choices add up to create/develop our children into a certain type of adult. Plus there are things we don't have control over, so be sure to try and choose wisely about the stuff you do have control over.
Both of my children loved (and still love) the Baby Einstein series. Before purchasing them, check them out from your local library and see how she likes them. There are others there, like the Wiggles. My kids never liked them, but other moms told me their children enjoyed the music. Also, on PBS, 12:30 pm. Rags is kind of cute. You can see if she likes that. Has a bit more narration, though, but lots of music. Some of the Sesame Street videos worked, well, too. Enjoy.
At that age all my son would watch was the Wiggles and Barney-it's almost all singing and dancing. There are some Disney Sing a Long movies which he would sit through occasionally, but it was Wiggles and Barney in our house for about a year before he moved on.
Even now, he's 4 and we still watch the same movie for a week or so. I just read most of the time or get things done around the house if I can sneak away a little. When he was 2, I took a shower while he watched so I wasn't really watching anyway. It's good for kids to watch (and read, and sing, etc...) the same things repeatedly: it helps them learn.
Once he reached 3, he started watching some of the Little Einsteins series, Sesame Street, most of the shows on the Disney channel and Noggin: Dora, Diego, Winnie the Pooh, Little Bear, etc...
Brooke,
I have a 4 year old and a 21 month old. They enjoy watching VeggieTales and just about any Disney movie, but I don't let them watch some of them because my kids like to pick out inappropriate phrases. Anyway, they love Little Einsteins and Mickey Mouse Club House. In these videos they learn to clap their hands to music ans count and recognize pictures. It's really awesome. Have fun.
Hi Brooke,
Yes, we love the music over hear too but I know what you mean about Victor Vito! Anyway, you may want to try Here Come the ABC's and Here Come the 123's. They are both by They Might Be Giants and it is a different sound than Laurie Berkner but they are both very good! My kids LOVE them and they are very catchy tunes. My kids are 4, 3 and 11 month old twins. My husband and I enjoy them too! You'll find yourself singing along to it all! Also From A to Z is a Sesame Street singing DVD which is good. Any of the Leap Frog, Letter Factory, Word Factory, Math Factory - they are all good singing and learning DVD's!!!
Little Einstein dvd's are great. At least they play great classical music which all children should be hearing as they grow up. Mozart, Beethoven etc. In the series, they have additional language, music, Shakespeare, etc. Our daughter loves them and now loves all music created before the 20th century.
My 16 month old ADORES "Hi-5"...and my other two girls loved this show around these ages also. Mostly songs, some short "stories". Very cute and colorful
Keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends NO TV for children until they are at least 2 years old.
Brooke,
You've already gotten lots of great advice. I just wanted to add a side note. I'd suggest you preview any "movies" before you show them to your daughter. (One Mom mentioned Disney movies) They are actually rated for 6 years and up (like the Little Mermaid) and many parents are letting the kids watch them at 2. In their early years, I think their imaginations are so powerful, it is important to reserve most Disney movies till they are much older. The drama, dark characters, intense music and lighting... are very powerful and letting them watch these so young desensitises them. Also, I think it adds to the nightmare factor and insecurities that children are already prone to. Anyway, that's my two cents. I know you are not interested in this type of video yet, I just thought I'd throw that out there. So many parents seem to think its fun (and it is for older children and adults) and harmless. I just wanted to put the thought in your head before you reached that point in life.
Good luck. We love Baby Einstein and all sing along movies. We have a VCR still and I go to the thrift or consignment stores and buy older videos for $1-5. It is a great way to check out a bunch of shows without spending much. Variety can make your life better, and if you don't approve of the tape, it wasn't a big investment. I'd preview them first, because the Disney sing alongs come from the Disney movies and the "Never smile at a Crocodile" song from "Under the Sea" scares the pants off of my 3 year old. I unfortunately did not preview this one. Laurie Berkner has been a great influence on my children too. My 3 year old used to insist we call her "Ms. Laurie" when she'd run around the house carrying a play guitar :)
Take care,
Liz