This is a charming and playful introduction to swimming, diving, and surfing. Captivating images of little mouths blowing bubbles, babies splashing and children riding waves are synchronized with lively compositions from composers such as Handel, Hayden, Bach, and Sousa. Toddlers are exposed to language progression through the repetition of action words and phrases such as "Pull with your arms," "Splash with your hands" and "Kick with your feet."
Playing in the water is typically an activity that kids enjoy and children with a love for H2O will love watching this swimming, diving and surfing video. From the toddler's splashing in a kiddie pool to the big kids taking lessons to the professionals showing off some impressive skills, kids will be fascinated from start to finish. Soothing classical music flows through the video and provides comforting and exciting background rhythms while an encouraging voiceover gently urges the viewers, and the babies, to "pull with your arms" and "kick with your feet."
Kids will get an early lesson on the importance of physical activity, which will hopefully stay with them for the rest of their lives. The introduction to the various water sports provides a solid backbone to a continuing education with lessons, such as "put on your goggles" before going for a swim, "cross your hands, tuck your head and bend your knees" before a dive, and "lie on your tummy, paddle with arms and pop up on feet" while surfing.
When I showed this video to Emily, the little girl that I babysit, she said that she can't wait to learn to swim because it looks like so much fun! She loved the swim noodles almost as much for the name as the purpose and thought that the professional divers performed really cool tricks.
--Abby
Lara and Todd Needham, natives of Kentucky, are the co-founders of the BABYPRO video series, and the parents of two active little boys. After the birth of their first child in 2001, they realized that video entertainment for babies was largely focused on mental engagement, yet offered little physical stimulation. Being health-conscious sports enthusiasts, they wanted their children to watch programming which conveyed the value of physical activity.
Over the next couple of years Lara and Todd studied the viability of the children's video market, paying close attention to national health and sports trends for children, then began conceptualizing an innovative, new genre of healthy sports-inspired "Baby TV" that combined cognitive learning with physical concepts. BABYPRO was founded in October 2002, when Lara and Todd first trademarked their company name, and their first title Let's Play Ball! was released in December 2004. Their second title, Let's Make a Splash! was released in Spring 2005 and their third title, Let's Dance & Tumble! was released in December 2005.
Prior to founding BABYPRO Lara and Todd lived in Los Angeles and New York City, where Todd worked in television production and Lara completed her Ph.D. in health communication.