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The So Smart! series of videos and DVDs
are original videos for small children. They are probably best for
families on the fence about whether they want their kids to watch
too much TV, simply because they are quite low-key
and they encourage parental participation. They're also appropriate for families who already own
and enjoy videos designed for babies, as a change of pace and to
add variety to their collection. Children can watch
them without parental involvement, of course. However, these
videos are less stimulating than many on the market simply because
they don't change pace frequently. Some parents will appreciate
their gentleness; others will want a little more action.
So Smart! Colors (Video/CD-ROM set)
 This video attempts to introduce
young children to the world of colors through simple stories and
animation. First up is the color green: a green grasshopper finds
a green "hill", only to discover that it's actually a
turtle. The turtle and grasshopper become friends and explore more
green things. Similarly simple stories are featured for the rest
of the colors -- a purple fish who loves to make bubbles, a yellow
lion and a yellow bird, an orange tractor that is trying to move a
big pile of orange dirt, and so forth.
 The
included CD-ROM doubles as an audio CD that parents can use in the
car or at home. There are 3 simple activities featured in the
CD-ROM game. Clicks of the mouse or taps on the keyboard will
elicit onscreen responses. There's a "musical jukebox"
featuring the same gentle instrumentals we hear in the video; a
"pop the box" game for each featured color; and a
building game in which each tap or click pulls up a new shape that
expands and contracts before falling into place. See the
screenshot at left to get an idea of what kinds of familiar
objects children build in this latter game.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: So Smart! Colors with CD ROM]
So Smart! Colors DVD
The DVD edition of So Smart!
Colors is as above, with some bonuses, including a bonus audio
CD of child-friendly classical music. Total runtime
(including interactive games) is 120 minutes.
The interactive games that are
found on the CD-ROM in the video set are included on the DVD
edition--parents can interact with them using the remote control.
For example, in the activity with the "pink pig"
pictured above, caregivers select a color and then each press of
the "play" button on the remote control triggers a shape
to appear onscreen. Subsequent presses of the button effectively
"build" the object (in this case, the pig is the
completed object in the "pink" activity).
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: So Smart - Colors
(DVD edition)]
So Smart! Letters
(Video/CD-ROM Set)
 This video is a simple, but artistic,
presentation of the letters of the alphabet. Each uppercase letter
is shown along with an object or verb that starts with the letter.
The letters and objects glide and dance across the screen. In one
vignette, a large letter N
almost fills the screen, and then the background fills with black and stars appear to represent
night time. Eventually, the N grows
smaller, a moon appears, and the word "night" is spelled
out. In the next, many letter "O"s move up the ocean-blue screen, and then
an octopus appears. Throughout the video, black-and-white patterns
are frequently used--presumably to appeal to the very young.
The video provides classical
music as the audio backdrop. The letters are not named, so
caregivers will need to be on hand to interact with children and
talk to them about what the see on the television screen. When
used along with adults, this video can be an effective learning
tool.
 The learning has two levels: for
children just learning to recognize letters, their appearance in
this video will help with cognition; older children will be able
to associate the letters with objects and words.
The CD-ROM included with the
video also doubles as a CD that will play in an audio CD player.
It features a handful of activities based on the images in the
video. Again, the letters are not named except for in the
"Alphabet Story Cards" activity. The design seems to
intentionally include parents.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: So Smart! Letters with CD-ROM]
So Smart! Letters DVD
The DVD edition of So Smart!
Letters is as above, with some bonuses. For one, the
interactive games can be played on the TV or the computer. Also, a
bonus 50-minute classical music CD is included.
The interactive games that are
found on the CD-ROM in the video set are included on the DVD
edition--parents can interact with them using the remote control.
For example, in the activity pictured above, caregivers select a
letter and then each press of the "play" button on the
remote control triggers an object that begins with the selected
letter of the alphabet to appear onscreen. Subsequent presses of
the button prompt the objects to glide away and new ones to appear
from the box.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: So Smart - Letters
(DVD edition)]
So Smart! First Words (Video/CD-ROM Set)
 This video is a vocabulary
builder for the very young. Kids are treated to simple stories
about 30 familiar objects through narration and animation. Like the other videos above, the
animations are quite basic but eye-catching. There are no sudden
changes or unpleasant surprises to be found--just tiny stories about
bears, birds, and shoes (and more)!
Gentle music and narration make
up the audio portion of this video. Although the narration is
clear, we wished it was slightly more expressive.
 All
the same, this video is ideal for families with young children,
especially for caregivers who participate with their children as
they watch.
The CD-ROM included with the
video also doubles as a CD that will play in an audio CD player.
The activities are similar to those found in the above
videos--kids get to "build" objects they've seen in the
video, one shape at a time; listen to music; and click or tap the
keyboard for surprises popping out of boxes.
[For more information, user reviews, or to buy: So Smart! First Words with CD-ROM
(video/CD-ROM)]
So Smart! First Words DVD
The DVD edition of So Smart! First Words is as above, with some bonuses. The activities can be
played via the TV or the computer, and a bonus CD featuring "sleepytime"
classical music is included.
The interactive games that are found on the CD-ROM in the video
set are included on the DVD edition--parents can interact with
them using the remote control. For example, in the activity
pictured above, caregivers select a themed box (in this case,
"what's inside?") and then each press of the
"play" button on the remote control triggers an object
to appear from out of the box.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: So Smart - First Words
(DVD edition)]
Series
Pros:
- Excellent for promoting
parent/child interaction.
- Plays much like a
"moving" picture book.
- Original music played on
"real" instruments rather than toys.
- Soothing and gentle.
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Series
Cons:
- Gentle pace may not be
stimulating enough for alone time.
- Those who prefer
live-action video for their young children will not
appreciate these videos' animation-only format.
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Back to
Video Guide
| Published: 2001/2002 |
By: The Baby School Company |
Ages 1-3 |
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