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