Fun & Friends is an exciting video from a new series, Mommy & Me, which is designed to promote together-time fun. Hosted by a group of mothers and their kids, with plenty of help from lovable characters, this video is dedicated to songs, fingerplays, and activities that caregivers can share with their young children.
Fun & Friends runs like an enhanced Mom and Tots play group — complete with friendly moms, happy children, and plenty of interactive songs and fun. The moms are supported by whimsical characters including Rosebud, the happy-faced potted plant, the three Goldfish Sisters who love to speak in rhyme, and Walter the Jukebox, whose voice is that of comedian Tim Conway. Live-action footage and adorable cartoon sequences add tremendous variety and appeal.
This video features plenty of sing-along songs, including such tried-and-true favorites as Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes and the silly Apples and Bananas. The early-learning opportunities inherent in these favorite tunes are thoroughly taken advantage of — numerals appear on the screen during This Old Man, and concepts like up/down and open/shut are demonstrated during Wheels on the Bus.
The video is busy with activities, but the pace is never frenetic. Instead, it moves smoothly from upbeat action songs to activities such as a pretend tea party. Kids identify animal sounds, watch the antics of animated musical notes to the song Do Re Mi, relax to a gentle sequence of cloud-watching set to Bach, and enjoy a good story.
The presentation is thoughtful, and the transitions between activities and songs are very well done. For example, in one sequence, an onscreen mom shows and names colorful shapes. When she gets to the over-sized circle, it naturally follows that a Wheels on the Bus music video comes next. Parents will appreciate the fact that the featured mothers and kids are enthusiastic but still manage to remain natural — the overall effect is a busy and friendly show.
The focus of this video series is on participation and sharing. While Fun & Friends is best enjoyed by both parent and child at once, it does a remarkable job of entertaining kids on their own, so harried parents will be able to catch a quick break from time to time. Mommy & Me Enterprise was founded by Dr. Cindy Nurik, and is dedicated to promoting parent-child interaction through its books, audio products, and videos. A special message for parents from Dr. Nurik appears at the tail end of the video. In some ways, Fun & Friends doubles as an instructional video for new parents looking for fresh ideas for interacting with their children. Experienced caregivers will undoubtedly be just as pleased — the video is fun and informative for all.
There are plenty of things that make this video special. Fun, comedic surprises, a pleasing arrangement of activities and styles of presentation, and delightful animations make the video a wonderful addition to a young child's video library.
