Growing Up Well - Squiggles, Dots and Lines: A Kid's Video Guide to Drawing and Creativity Featuring Illustrator Ed Emberley
from Peter Pan
Illustrator Ed Emberley has developed a simple, nine-character "drawing alphabet" that enables children ages 5 to 12 to draw almost anything. By using simple shapes like a circle, triangle, and squiggle, Emberley demonstrates drawing things like ant parades, mice, and expressive faces. He discusses the many sources of artistic inspiration and shows kids how to create movement or tell a story just by adding simple details and decorations to their drawings. Enthusiastic child artists apply Emberley's ideas to their own art projects, creating personalized cards, books, and some amazingly intricate drawings. This video uses a combination of original songs celebrating the joy and creative potential of drawing, Emberley's instruction, and glimpses of real children engaged in drawing, which keeps kids interested and thoroughly entertained. A short activity guide, reminiscent of Emberley's many books on drawing, accompanies the video and offers step-by-step instructions for creating things like cars, faces, and animals. This video will inspire and teach children of all artistic abilities--not to mention their parents! --Tami Horiuchi
Growing Up Well - Piggy Banks to Money Markets: A Kid's Video Guide to Dollars and Sense
In this upbeat primer on money, insightful vignettes involving four kids offer thought-provoking lessons in earning, investing, and spending. Dian starts a weekend business playing piano at childrens' parties; Adam holds a garage sale so he can invest in baseball cards; little Elizabeth helps her mom with gardening; and TJ recruits a buddy to run his lemonade stand. While the premises sound simple enough, each child encounters an imaginative hitch along the way, inviting plenty of discussion and words of wisdom. Other helpful bits include a glance at how and where U.S. bills and coins are made, materials other cultures use for money, and an unbiased discussion of how kids use their money (consequences included). Banking, checking, credit card explanations--illustrated via cartoon computer graphics--might whiz right by the 5- to 8-year-olds, and some of the song-and-dance routines might lose the 9- to 12-year-olds, but the payoff in knowledge gained will easily outweigh any temporary losses of attention. The tape runs about 27 minutes. --Liane Thomas
Growing Up Well - Let's Get a Move On! A Kid's Video Guide to a Family Move
Big changes raise big questions for kids, and moving to a new home easily ranks near the top of the list, especially with 4- to 10-year-olds. To help them cope with the inevitable, this 30-minute Parents' Choice honoree follows four children (each from a different family) through the entire process: "Getting the News," "Getting Ready," and "Getting a Move On." Hearing each child tell his or her own story (scripted but quite realistic) not only demystifies moving, it also allows young viewers to see other kids endure it--with positive results. Each subtopic receives quality attention: an original song full of thought-provoking lyrics; home-style footage of the four kids interacting with friends, family, neighbors, and pets; and lots of frank talk about their feelings (anger, confusion, excitement) and experiences (packing, saying goodbye, making new friends). Helpful suggestions for coping with sadness, loneliness, and doubt are included. Overall, the show serves as a gentle reminder that "houses and apartments are just buildings--but home is where my family is." --Liane Thomas
Growing Up Well - Paws, Claws, Feathers & Fins: A Kid's Video Guide to Pets
Children often yearn for a pet, and Paws, Claws, Feathers & Fins shows that carefully chosen animals can make wonderful companions and provide a great learning experience for children. What kids and their parents need to ask themselves before choosing a pet is, "How much effort, time, money, and space does the pet really require?" This video offers a clear picture of what's involved in caring for different pets like dogs, cats, birds, fish, small mammals, and ponies and shows children actively tending their animals--right down to cleaning up animal "poop." Following these insights into pet care is information about how to pick a healthy animal; a discussion of a pet owner's responsibility to get the animal fixed and take it for regular veterinary visits; and some general care, health, and training tips. There's even a short segment on dealing with a pet's death. Children are the stars of this production and are shown interacting with their pets to the accompaniment of fun music that reinforces the topics covered. Included with the video is a short activity guide with several pet-inspired craft projects and some very brief health tips. This entertaining, 28-minute video provides a wealth of valuable information about choosing and caring for pets--a must-see for 4- to 12-year-olds considering pet ownership. --Tami Horiuchi
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