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"Tap your sticks to the right with a 1..2..3; tap your sticks to the left with a 1..2..3.." Oh, no, not again. I guess it's no use. No
matter what I do, I can't get those words (and their accompanying tune) out of my head. In fact, I've been humming it since this
morning, when my two-year-old son and I watched one of his favorite videos,Baby
Songs ABC, 123, Colors and Shapes.
Tap Your Sticks is just one of the 10 memorable tunes you will find on this energetic 32-minute video created by Backyard
Productions. All of its tunes are written by Hap Palmer, a children's music legend. Palmer pioneered the technique of integrating
music and movement into early childhood education. Indeed, my son seldom sits still when watching this video. He is usually moving
around and imitating the actions of the video's children while learning concepts like colors and numbers. It's an innovative approach to
learning, which is why this video has won numerous awards, including TV Guide's Best Kids Video, Parent's Choice Gold Award and
the National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval.
BabySongs ABC
successfully mixes cartoon characters and real children to build a wholesome learning experience. An impish
cartoon toddler boy with strawberry-blond hair introduces each segment, followed by children acting out each song's lyrics.
Two songs on the video help teach kids the alphabet: Alphabet in Motion and
Bean Bag Alphabet Rag.
Alphabet in Motion is video's first segment. It encourages kids to "alphabetize your exercise." A movement is suggested for each
letter, such as 'clapping' for the letter 'C' and 'marching' for the letter 'M'. Toddlers and preschoolers then act out each movement, until
the end of the segment, where the kids lay down on the floor and use their bodies to form letters.
Bean Bag Alphabet Rag if one of my little guy's favorite segments. This light-hearted tune teaches kids the sounds of the alphabet
and how to follow directions. The children in the segment use bean bags to make the suggested motion ("A--arm: put it on your arm;"
T--toes: tap it on top of your toes.") I was delighted when my son grabbed his Beanie Baby ladybug (the closest thing he has to a
bean bag) and started mimicking the kids on the video. It was amazing to see how much he understood!
Three segments teach numbers: Tap Your Sticks, Numbers Can Tell Alot About You, and
Betty Beep.
Betty Beep is the story of a little girl who can't sleep because of the noises around her home. She tries to count sheep until she is
interrupted by her puppy's barking. So she tries to count barks until the cat's meow disrupts her. Then she tries to count meows, but
another noise interrupts her. It's a situation every child (and many adults) face when they want to sleep, but are distracted by life's
everyday noises. I was totally surprised when my son tried to count the noises on his fingers, just like "Betty" does in the video!
You will find yourself humming Tap Your Sticks throughout the day--whether you want to or not! During this segment, we see little
children tapping a variety of objects together, including bananas, carrots, plastic spoons, sticks and wooden blocks. This segment
teaches rhythm, numbers and counting. As an added bonus, your child will learn directions, since the song encourages them to move
their sticks to the right, left, above their heads and behind their backs. My son loves this song--he usually grabs his wooden blocks
and begins his own tapping session!
Numbers Can Tell Alot About You is a little more complex. I don't think my son understands the size, speed, time and temperature
concepts. However, the segment holds his rapt attention, so perhaps he is picking up much more than I realize!
My toddler has become a "shapes fanatic," thanks to the Shapes that Surround You and
Jig Along Shapes segments. I'm amazed by how much he has learned from watching these segments. In fact, expeditions outside our home have become a "shape
safari," as he hunts for and finds the rectangles, circles, ovals, squares and triangles that surround him in buildings and nature. He is
constantly pointing out shapes to me, even in places where I don't see them!
Unfortunately, the cartoon introduction to Shapes that Surround You is a little scary for young children. In it, the cartoon toddler's face
is morphed into various shapes, starting at a circle and then evolving into a triangle and square. This segment frightens my son; he
always runs to me and wants to sit on my lap. That's rather unusual; like most toddlers, sitting is the last thing he wants to do!
However, once the introduction is over, he is mesmerized by the rest of the segment, which features kids on a stage putting on a play
about shapes. They each wear a brightly colored cardboard box shaped like a triangle, square, circle, rectangle or oval and sing along
to lyrics like "Triangle, triangle where can you be? What do we look for and what do we see? I'm a sail on a boat or a hanger on your
coat. I have three angles and three straight lines." The words are easy to understand--even for young children--and reinforce the
concept behind each shape.
If you like Celtic music, the catchy beat of Jig Along Shapes will appeal to you. During this segment, a large group of children is
subdivided into smaller groups. Each group is identifiable by the color of the t-shirt worn by its members. Then each group
demonstrates its shape by skipping along a path on the ground. For example, the kids wearing purple t-shirts skip along a path to
make the shape of a square. Because the camera shoots the scene from above, it's easy to see the shape each group forms with its
walking path. My son has adapted this little game so he can play it by himself. He puts various shapes on the floor (i.e.,
rectangle-shaped blocks, a round bowl) and skips around them, while trying to sing the Jig Along Shapes song.
Colors in Motion, the next segment, reinforces the concept of colors. This song also uses children wearing colored t-shirts to teach
colors. ("Red stand up and nod your head...Purple stand up and walk around red...) I also like the song because it shows children
how colors are created ("Blue and yellow, walk around green, 'cause blue and yellow make green.")
Two additional songs on the video don't really teach the alphabet, shapes, numbers or colors:
We are All Alike and We're On Our Way. However, don't dismiss these songs; they still carry important messages.
We Are All Alike is a song about ethnic diversity--toddler style. It describes how snowflakes are all all unique, "just like you and me."
It tells us that everyone has skin which may come in different shades. Then the lyrics explain that despite these differences, we all
breath, laugh, dream and have hopes and fears.
Obviously, these concepts are a little complex for a young child. However, my son
likes watching the children in making snowflakes in their preschool classroom and the clown painting different shapes on children's
faces at a carnival. The end of the segment teaches a nice message about sharing too. A little girl's balloon blows away and she
begins to cry. A little girl (of another ethnic background) gives her balloon to the crying child. It's a rather touching scene.
We're On Our Way is an upbeat song that shows children enjoying everyday activities like reading books, drawing pictures and
exploring new places.
This is a great video that successfully keeps preschoolers and toddlers entertained while teaching them elementary
concepts like the alphabet and shapes. Although I like to pop it into the VCR while I prepare supper, I often find myself watching it
along with my son. It's hard to ignore the catchy tunes on this tape! I highly recommend this tape for any family with young children.
If you would like to
purchase this item for your library, it is available from Amazon.com.
Click on link below for information:
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