REVIEW: So Smart! DVDs

Last weekend I received two educational childrens dvd's for review from So Smart! Productions. So Smart! is a leading creator and producer of top-rated educational entertainment products for young children. I received the Baby’s First-Word Stories "Get Dressed" dvd and King Otis and The Kingdom of Goode "Phoose's Tale of Patience" dvd. My kids have been watching both dvds NON-STOP we received them. The funniest thing is that both my sons claim the dvd's as their own. My youngest son, who turned 2yrs old in October, claims the "Get Dressed" dvd as "HIS" dvd and my oldest son, who turned 3yrs old in December, claims the "Tale of Patience" dvd. Everyday when we get home both of them emphatically say, "mommy I want to watch MY dvd." In fact, my oldest son oftentimes doesn't even get out of his coat and hat without sitting in front of the television to watch this educational dvd. I have simply been amazed at how much they enjoy the dvds and want to watch them repeatedly. Believe it or not, even my 6yr old daughter enjoys the dvds.

The "Get Dressed" dvd is a series of short stories teaching younger children to appropriately dress themselves based on the weather or the activity they are engaging in. This So Smart! dvd introduces basic words about getting dressed and builds sentences and stories based around friends Edward, Iggy, Larry and Dee Dee. At the end of each short story the dvd asks the child to repeat words learned from the story. This dvd offers a very gentle pace, engaging imagery, and soothing music making it perfect for young children 1 to 3 years old, who are just beginning to explore the rich world of language.

Every parent will appreciate the "Tale of Patience" dvd as it teaches children the importance of having patience, sharing with others, and having respect for others. The dvd uses captivating stories, catchy songs, and lovable characters as Phoose and his fish-like friends --growing up in the Nowaki desert-- are tired of waiting for water. But after a series of misadventures, it is patience that finally makes their dreams of swimming come true! This dvd even offers a bonus of behind-the-scenes storyboards, two music videos, “Draw the Characters” on-screen tutorial, printable coloring sheets and trailers. (PC and Mac Compatible)

Trusted by parents for over a decade, So Smart! remains among the leaders in the baby-toddler video category because it uses:

• Gently animated, bright colors and simple images that are specially developed for babies and toddlers
• Minimal, smooth scene transitions, choreographed like a ballet of images woven together, while avoiding the use of sudden changes in viewpoint or camera angles, which can confuse and over-stimulate babies and toddlers
• Slow, easy-to-follow pace that encourages interaction and participation—usually in the form of laughing, clapping, "talking," and dancing; a unique technique that builds each new subject matter using different shapes, creating a puzzle-like effect and the excitement of "What happens next?"
• Narration, varied contexts and repetition to introduce first words, allowing babies to grasp the sounds of words and eventually, their meanings. Read our Our Ten Tips on Language for Little Ones
• Original artwork and adorable characters that are engaging for this age group; specially-selected classical music, or original music scores, that are enjoyable for both little ones and their parents
• Fun additional activities that are included in each DVD, for parents and children to do together. 

As a mother of three who is always conscious about what my children view, I highly recommend So Smart! products. In addition to dvds, So Smart! also offers music cds for children, multipacks and gift sets. Products offered by So Smart! are very reasonably priced and offer a bang for your buck.

 

Visit So Smart! website to purchase products:

http://www.sosmart.com/

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