Considering the popularity of Baby Einstein videos, I am surprised it has taken the company this long to introduce media for children who are beyond the infant stage. When I first heard about the new DVD series, “Little Einsteins,” I didn’t think too much about it. I guess the Baby Einstein concept has become pretty common place after the number of infant videos they have produced, and the fact that every one I know has one. When I saw the DVD preview of the upcoming release “Our Huge Adventure,” though, my interest was peaked.
“Our Huge Adventure” is the first DVD in the “Little Einsteins” series (which will be supported by the “Little Einsteins” TV show that will begin in October on Playhouse Disney), and it combines music, art, animation, and real world footage to excite preschoolers’ minds. Also, according to the Disney press release: “’Little Einsteins’ was created with child development experts and musicians to ensure that the storyline, curriculum, and pacing are age appropriate.”
What impressed me is the ways in which the creators embedded learning into the “missions” the four main characters embark upon. During the adventure, the characters encourage children to answer questions, help keep a beat, sing, and other educational activities. Each of the four main characters has interests and traits that children can identify with.
In the portion of the DVD I previewed, for example, the characters set off on a mission to help a caterpillar (who crawls around singing classical music). Along the way, the Little Einsteins are challenged with adventures such as navigating a rollercoaster that looks like a sheet of music while following signs such as “Crescendo” and “Staccato.” In helping the caterpillar, children will also see animated and real life footage of the process by which it will turn into a butterfly.
From what I have seen so far, children watching this DVD will learn by the most effective way possible, without realizing somebody is trying to teach them something. Suffices to say, I have put my name on the pre-order list. The DVD will be released August 23, 2005, so look for my full review of the DVD on August 24.
