Manhattan_Mom Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 We have a strict anti-TV policy in our home. Therefore, I have no data regarding quality TV (or videos) for preschoolers. We are guests for the holidays in a home where the expectation will be that the kids (mine and their same-aged cousins) watch a video for an hour after dinner/before bed while the grown-ups talk. Our sons are 12 months old and 2 years and 8 months old. We are looking for something educational - esp. numbers and counting and/or letters. I grew up on Sesame Street and this is my back-up option, but I'd love to know about anything terrific out there. I would be so grateful for your recommendations! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K&Rs Mom Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 They Might Be Giants has several: "Here Come the ABCs" and "Here Come the 1,2,3s" are fun for those ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samiam Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 Dora is good, I think, as it incorporates all of that. But honestly, my children were probably 2-3 before they ever noticed the TV long enough to sit in front of it for more than five minutes. I don't see your 12 month watching at all. But then, perhaps so the TV would be SOO new to them, they will be entranced, at least for that hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabeline Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 My guys loved the Baby Einstein videos at that age. The Leap Frog videos are also very educational but maybe just a bit above their level. If your guys are not used to being entertained by a video be prepared for them not to be entranced. My oldest has always loved watching any kid video but my youngest would only sit for maybe 5 -10 minustes and then get up and want to play or do something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 My kids watch musicals (including the older Disney movies and things like Sound of Music) and animal documentaries because they are fairly slow paced. But I agree with the others, the kids probably won't watch anyway. Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 We have a strict anti-TV policy in our home. Therefore, I have no data regarding quality TV (or videos) for preschoolers. I am an advocate for a reasonable amount of exposure to good stuff. I didn't like the idea of cartoon things, nor fast-paced TV. I exposed my son to what I considered good but not emotionally mature material (like Death of a Salesman). Life of Birds was a start. My son also watched the Nutcracker, and "dance" was his first verb. By three he loved The General with Buster Keaton, and Chaplin. When he was 7, as a treat, he got Clash of the Titans and Jason and the Argonauts (60s version) or the old 50s TV show of Robin Hood. You know what he loves at 8? All in the Family. He imitates the accents, cackles over Archies mispronunciations, and he thinks Gloria is cute. I like how it is so much like a play, and how I can introduce him to parts of culture we don't see. Why is that man in funny collar talking such bad Latin? He's a priest that Archie is "testing". A Day at the Races is next on my list. We listened to more things. I was amazed how a just 4 could be riveted by a reading of Island of the Blue Dolphin (read by Tantoo Cardinal). We also listened to the Vox Music masters over and over and over. My son loved the story of Berlioz, particularly when he was 4 and 5. I believe there was a study, and the Baby Einstein kids started talking later, by a month or two. IMO, the video medium is so "powerful" (I think of it as dreaming for free), you don't need to sweeten and color it pink for even very littles to track it. YMMV, but I thought I'd give you a minority report. (As for Sesame Street: yuck) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 I prefer the slower real-life pace of "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood" to the short sound bites of most children's programming, including "Sesame Street". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidbits of Learning Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 We have a strict anti-TV policy in our home. Therefore, I have no data regarding quality TV (or videos) for preschoolers. We are guests for the holidays in a home where the expectation will be that the kids (mine and their same-aged cousins) watch a video for an hour after dinner/before bed while the grown-ups talk. Our sons are 12 months old and 2 years and 8 months old. We are looking for something educational - esp. numbers and counting and/or letters. I grew up on Sesame Street and this is my back-up option, but I'd love to know about anything terrific out there. I would be so grateful for your recommendations! Thanks! I would go with Baby Einstein. I remember my ds liking the Old McDonald one a lot. Is there an older cousin that could perhaps sit and entertain the children instead? Read a book or listen to an audio tape. I don't see a room of infants to preschoolers staying focused on the tv exclusively. I think the adults will still wind up redirecting their attention some what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindergretta Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 I prefer the slower real-life pace of "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood" to the short sound bites of most children's programming, including "Sesame Street". ITA. Although, none of my dc at those ages would sit and watch TV. They might glance at it in passing or watch a scene, but that's it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowperch Posted December 5, 2010 Share Posted December 5, 2010 (edited) I don't think this is going to work. Older non-tv kids may well be fascinated enough to watch a dvd for the first time, but children your dcs ages are not likely to be. Your post brought to mind a long-anticipated trip to see a lovely spinster aunt. She had been hoping for us to come for years and had a fine collection of videos she had been picking up for the children. We had three at the time, 1,3,5 an they hated, hated, hated being force to watch tv. They had seen very little tv or movies.The first film was Lady and the Tramp (a shooting scene starts the movie). I really tried to get the kids to watch because this clearly was one of those things for this aunt--she really wanted to share these disney films with my children. She also wanted them to be calm and stay way from the nick-nacks, china, and toy poodle. Anyway, they wouldn't watch them, but the didn't mind an animal show one of the evenings. (The baby just was on my lap or DH's most of the time. That bugged my aunt. Why I do not know.) Anyway, I wouln't worry overmuch about finding educational fare. It's a one shot deal, right? Go for pure entertainment--the weston woods/scholastic dvds are based on children's books and are not too flashhy, fast-paced, etc. You can borrow them from the NYPL so you aren't stuck with them forever. How old are the other children? Edited December 6, 2010 by yellowperch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 I prefer the slower real-life pace of "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood" to the short sound bites of most children's programming, including "Sesame Street". I agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cera Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 My kids didn't have any interest in tv at that age. They really didn't start watching until after 3. At three they liked the leapfrog dvds (letter factory, math circus) and blues clues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Baby Signing Time or Classical Baby? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JessReplanted Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 I love the Leapfrog videos. We have 3 of them: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TKUXUC/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0000INU7C&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0RSBHHFYQYCDR0S6BWYX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBeaks Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Another vote for the leapfrog DVDs for your older child. The younger probably won't be interested, but maybe. Mine watch Hermie cartoons too, but again probably the older one, not the younger. My 3yo and 5yo like those best. Heads up though, that these are Christian content (not sure if you are so always try to warn people). http://www.amazon.com/Hermie-Common-Caterpillar-Tim-Conway/dp/140030119X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 I love the Leapfrog videos. We have 3 of them: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TKUXUC/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0000INU7C&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0RSBHHFYQYCDR0S6BWYX :iagree: These! Absolutely marvelous learning tools. Even an anti-TV parent should appreciate just how well these videos teach letter recognition and beginning phonics. Search no further, these are the best. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manhattan_Mom Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 Thanks everyone! I'm going to go with some Mr. Rogers, which I loved as a child and now appreciate the pacing as a Mom. Wish us luck! btw videos are here: http://pbskids.org/rogers/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jplain Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 If Mr. Rogers doesn't hook them, Blue's Clues is another good option. Little kid silliness with toddler/preschool level critical thinking, and it doesn't drive me crazy. (I'm thinking of Baby Einstein. Not my cup of tea.) The first 3 seasons of Blue's Clues are available as Instant View on Netflix, if you have access to that. We also like the Scholastic Storybook Classics videos, which can be bought in sets or individually. Our library has lots of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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