Video/DVD Review: Barney: Celebrating Around the World
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this DVD is best for kids ages 2-4
who like Barney on TV. It's a good introduction to other
countries and traditions and stresses friendship. Parents who
have trouble getting young kids to eat their veggies may
dislike the part where playground kids all sing the praises of
ice cream and eat three scoops at a time.
Families can talk about dancing. What dances did you like? Can
you dance like the kids from Kenya or from India? Can you put
on loud shoes and make tapping noises with your feet like the
dancers from Ireland?
Barney's friends Tracy and Ben want to have a party and are looking for some inspiration. Lucky for them the Imagination Train is on hand to whisk them around the globe where they see all kinds of celebrations and meet new friends. In Brazil kids dance the samba in their carnival costumes; in Ireland Barney shows St. Patrick's Day dancers he can keep up with the Lord of the Dance any day; in Japan new kimono-ed friends celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival; in Kenya families hold a lively music festival; and in India it's time for Diwali with dancing and treats. When Ben and Tracy return to plan their party they finally agree on a theme: friendship.
Barney on TV may be tough for parents to sit through, and it's impossible to get that "I love you, you love me" song out of your head days later. But kids love the big purple guy and he's always passing on such nice lessons for kids to hear, so we make the effort to hang in there. This DVD makes the task a little easier, thanks to all the lively international dancing -- mostly by kids in traditional dress.
Mixed in with all the jigging and samba-ing there are still a number of ditties on ice cream, taking turns, playing outside, trying new things, and more. They really pack in the songs to the point where this is a bit long for kids to sit through. Better to take it a few countries at a time, getting up to samba whenever the mood strikes.
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