Miffy's Playtime

Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Introduction to The World of The Tube
Review: Not to imply that television needs its own introduction for children, but since the TV was crafted, human's have been watching it. Everyone needs a half hour or so to sit and either be informed, entertained and in todays world even shocked in the comfort of their own home. There's nothing wrong with watching TV and the time in a day is very long for a toddler, even longer for the parent chasing after one. So if you need to prepare dinner, read the paper, or even just sit down and day dream, this is the perfect video to get that slight, however much needed break from finger painting and reading that one book twenty times. First, I believe this is called stop animation, which is more enjoyable and easier for children to watch rather than the fast flashing of most cartoons. Then there's the narrartor, a soft, pleasant woman's voice which tells each story in the right of amount expression, like Alec Baldwin's voice in the Thomas The Tank Engine series. The same, familiar, sunny voice that draws children to the story. Also the stories are short, the music is happy, the characters are diverse and very thoughtful of each other. The little animal families are ones all children will relate to as there's the only child, Miffy, with her mother and father, Grunty the Pig who lives with his Aunt Poppy, Boris and Barbara Bear who are married, but with no kids and all of Miffy's classmates and friends.
Then there are the brief breaks between each story which poses more of a word problem, for example, instead of just counting three flowers, three birds and three worms the child is asked after counting three flowers and three birds, if there's one worm under each flower how many worms are there. Which isn't going to make your child a wizard at math, but for a childrens video, I feel this is a more creative approach to the vidoes educational value.
Nothing is more important that reading to your child and taking your child out to the park or your neighborhood recreation center to educate and stimulate your childs mind. But I will admitt I'd rather my young child say Miffy is their favorite program than that big, purple, goofey and borderline frightening phoney dinosaur. Just for an option.