The American Obesity Association (yes, there is such a thing) reports that 15 percent of American children are now considered obese, an increase fueled more by bad habits than by genetics. At what age should children learn good habits to help offset all those hours sitting in school and "potatoing" on the couch with a game system or television? The Monkeydoos people think toddler and pre-school is just about right. And so do I.
Children are naturally active and imaginative until those impulses are altered or stifled. The Monkeydoos series appeals to both characteristics and also helps a child with cognitive skills and social development. Monkeydoos also gets to children before they have a chance to develop bad habits. "Get fit, get smart!" is the tagline on this DVD, but I personally think that the marketing people at Mazzarella Media ought to be bolder and just say what "Monkeydoos Things That Go!" is: an exercise video for toddlers and pre-schoolers.
I popped it in for my five year old and it didn't take much coaxing to get her to stand up and do what the kids and cartoon monkeys were doing, it all looked so fun. Maureen Straub is the human host who shares the television screen with Flip, Tumble, and Twist, three animated simians named for their special athletic abilities. Straub doesn't take the tone of voice that talks down to kids, and doesn't seem to feel as self-conscious in a cartoon environment as the goofy guys from "Blue's Clues." She comes across like mom's best friend, a popular teacher, a favorite babysitter, or an after-school program leader.
The monkeys themselves are a brightly colored blue, green, and orange, but the whole visual frame is really striking, with a combination of CGI, live-action, and backgrounds that energize every frame. What's surprising to me, considering that this isn't produced by a giant corporation, is that the production values are terrific. The colors are at full, sensory-overload saturation and the clarity and level of detail is really sharp for a DVD. Since everything starts with the visual, that's important. If it looks great, kids are going to be more apt to participate. And my daughter has already asked me to put this on several more times. I haven't even had to suggest it.
t's not long, either--just 30 minutes, so there's no chance for children to overdo it or become disinterested. And because each exercise is cloaked in song and imitative play, it doesn't even seem like exercise. It's pretend play. Make that wild pretend play.
There are 12 songs on this DVD which are linked to modes of transportation or movement, ranging from "My Pogo Stick" (jumping, hopping) to "Whizzy the Helicopter" (spinning, twirling). There are also warm-up exercises that emphasize stretching, using "Sailboats" and "Hot Air Balloon" as the focal point to distract kids from the real business at hand: fitness.
I tried these along with my pre-schooler, and can attest that the exercises will help children to improve their balance, their strength, their conditioning, and (perhaps, most important for a generation that could be borderline ADD) their response time. To keep up with Maureen and the Monkeydoos you've got to pay attention and shift gears. In the process, it's hard not to exercise the body and the imagination. Next play date, pop this DVD in and watch the kids have fun.
Children are naturally active and imaginative until those impulses are altered or stifled. The Monkeydoos series appeals to both characteristics and also helps a child with cognitive skills and social development. Monkeydoos also gets to children before they have a chance to develop bad habits. "Get fit, get smart!" is the tagline on this DVD, but I personally think that the marketing people at Mazzarella Media ought to be bolder and just say what "Monkeydoos Things That Go!" is: an exercise video for toddlers and pre-schoolers.
I popped it in for my five year old and it didn't take much coaxing to get her to stand up and do what the kids and cartoon monkeys were doing, it all looked so fun. Maureen Straub is the human host who shares the television screen with Flip, Tumble, and Twist, three animated simians named for their special athletic abilities. Straub doesn't take the tone of voice that talks down to kids, and doesn't seem to feel as self-conscious in a cartoon environment as the goofy guys from "Blue's Clues." She comes across like mom's best friend, a popular teacher, a favorite babysitter, or an after-school program leader.
The monkeys themselves are a brightly colored blue, green, and orange, but the whole visual frame is really striking, with a combination of CGI, live-action, and backgrounds that energize every frame. What's surprising to me, considering that this isn't produced by a giant corporation, is that the production values are terrific. The colors are at full, sensory-overload saturation and the clarity and level of detail is really sharp for a DVD. Since everything starts with the visual, that's important. If it looks great, kids are going to be more apt to participate. And my daughter has already asked me to put this on several more times. I haven't even had to suggest it.
t's not long, either--just 30 minutes, so there's no chance for children to overdo it or become disinterested. And because each exercise is cloaked in song and imitative play, it doesn't even seem like exercise. It's pretend play. Make that wild pretend play.
There are 12 songs on this DVD which are linked to modes of transportation or movement, ranging from "My Pogo Stick" (jumping, hopping) to "Whizzy the Helicopter" (spinning, twirling). There are also warm-up exercises that emphasize stretching, using "Sailboats" and "Hot Air Balloon" as the focal point to distract kids from the real business at hand: fitness.
I tried these along with my pre-schooler, and can attest that the exercises will help children to improve their balance, their strength, their conditioning, and (perhaps, most important for a generation that could be borderline ADD) their response time. To keep up with Maureen and the Monkeydoos you've got to pay attention and shift gears. In the process, it's hard not to exercise the body and the imagination. Next play date, pop this DVD in and watch the kids have fun.
The American Obesity Association (yes, there is such a thing) reports that 15 percent of American children are now considered obese, an increase fueled more by bad habits than by genetics. At what age should children learn good habits to help offset all those hours sitting in school and "potatoing" on the couch with a game system or television? The Monkeydoos people think toddler and pre-school is just about right. And so do I.
Children are naturally active and imaginative until those impulses are altered or stifled. The Monkeydoos series appeals to both characteristics and also helps a child with cognitive skills and social development. Monkeydoos also gets to children before they have a chance to develop bad habits. "Get fit, get smart!" is the tagline on this DVD, but I personally think that the marketing people at Mazzarella Media ought to be bolder and just say what "Monkeydoos Things That Go!" is: an exercise video for toddlers and pre-schoolers.
I popped it in for my five year old and it didn't take much coaxing to get her to stand up and do what the kids and cartoon monkeys were doing, it all looked so fun. Maureen Straub is the human host who shares the television screen with Flip, Tumble, and Twist, three animated simians named for their special athletic abilities. Straub doesn't take the tone of voice that talks down to kids, and doesn't seem to feel as self-conscious in a cartoon environment as the goofy guys from "Blue's Clues." She comes across like mom's best friend, a popular teacher, a favorite babysitter, or an after-school program leader.
The monkeys themselves are a brightly colored blue, green, and orange, but the whole visual frame is really striking, with a combination of CGI, live-action, and backgrounds that energize every frame. What's surprising to me, considering that this isn't produced by a giant corporation, is that the production values are terrific. The colors are at full, sensory-overload saturation and the clarity and level of detail is really sharp for a DVD. Since everything starts with the visual, that's important. If it looks great, kids are going to be more apt to participate. And my daughter has already asked me to put this on several more times. I haven't even had to suggest it.
t's not long, either--just 30 minutes, so there's no chance for children to overdo it or become disinterested. And because each exercise is cloaked in song and imitative play, it doesn't even seem like exercise. It's pretend play. Make that wild pretend play.
There are 12 songs on this DVD which are linked to modes of transportation or movement, ranging from "My Pogo Stick" (jumping, hopping) to "Whizzy the Helicopter" (spinning, twirling). There are also warm-up exercises that emphasize stretching, using "Sailboats" and "Hot Air Balloon" as the focal point to distract kids from the real business at hand: fitness.
I tried these along with my pre-schooler, and can attest that the exercises will help children to improve their balance, their strength, their conditioning, and (perhaps, most important for a generation that could be borderline ADD) their response time. To keep up with Maureen and the Monkeydoos you've got to pay attention and shift gears. In the process, it's hard not to exercise the body and the imagination. Next play date, pop this DVD in and watch the kids have fun.
Children are naturally active and imaginative until those impulses are altered or stifled. The Monkeydoos series appeals to both characteristics and also helps a child with cognitive skills and social development. Monkeydoos also gets to children before they have a chance to develop bad habits. "Get fit, get smart!" is the tagline on this DVD, but I personally think that the marketing people at Mazzarella Media ought to be bolder and just say what "Monkeydoos Things That Go!" is: an exercise video for toddlers and pre-schoolers.
I popped it in for my five year old and it didn't take much coaxing to get her to stand up and do what the kids and cartoon monkeys were doing, it all looked so fun. Maureen Straub is the human host who shares the television screen with Flip, Tumble, and Twist, three animated simians named for their special athletic abilities. Straub doesn't take the tone of voice that talks down to kids, and doesn't seem to feel as self-conscious in a cartoon environment as the goofy guys from "Blue's Clues." She comes across like mom's best friend, a popular teacher, a favorite babysitter, or an after-school program leader.
The monkeys themselves are a brightly colored blue, green, and orange, but the whole visual frame is really striking, with a combination of CGI, live-action, and backgrounds that energize every frame. What's surprising to me, considering that this isn't produced by a giant corporation, is that the production values are terrific. The colors are at full, sensory-overload saturation and the clarity and level of detail is really sharp for a DVD. Since everything starts with the visual, that's important. If it looks great, kids are going to be more apt to participate. And my daughter has already asked me to put this on several more times. I haven't even had to suggest it.
t's not long, either--just 30 minutes, so there's no chance for children to overdo it or become disinterested. And because each exercise is cloaked in song and imitative play, it doesn't even seem like exercise. It's pretend play. Make that wild pretend play.
There are 12 songs on this DVD which are linked to modes of transportation or movement, ranging from "My Pogo Stick" (jumping, hopping) to "Whizzy the Helicopter" (spinning, twirling). There are also warm-up exercises that emphasize stretching, using "Sailboats" and "Hot Air Balloon" as the focal point to distract kids from the real business at hand: fitness.
I tried these along with my pre-schooler, and can attest that the exercises will help children to improve their balance, their strength, their conditioning, and (perhaps, most important for a generation that could be borderline ADD) their response time. To keep up with Maureen and the Monkeydoos you've got to pay attention and shift gears. In the process, it's hard not to exercise the body and the imagination. Next play date, pop this DVD in and watch the kids have fun.
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