Sesame Street

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Dear Jack: Let Me Just Savor You at This Age for a Moment, Age 7

7 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

I am taking a moment to deliberately freeze this moment in time; as if to keep you this age long enough for me to process the concept.

It is clear to me that you are in a transition between two different stages of boyhood.

You’re old enough to recognize that “Sesame Street is for babies”, yet you will happily watch it alongside your sister, while giving critical yet intelligent commentary on the plot line.

You’re old enough to finally stop spending all your birthday and Christmas money on stuffed animals, yet you genuinely celebrate receiving a new one as a gift.

You’re old enough to walk across the street to catch the bus every morning to school, yet you still can’t tie your own shoes.

Speaking of shoes, it’s as if you’ve still got one foot in the world of Young Boyhood but now have the other foot in the land of Middle Boyhood.

I feel like I’m even catching a glimpse of your early teen years, when it will no longer be cool to be seen in public with your dad.

I keep that in mind, even now, knowing there are times when I need to give you space; yet the very next day you may be very needy of my attention.

It’s obvious to me that you have gained a sense of your own identity at a much younger age than I did. I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I feel you’ve already formed the confidence in yourself that I didn’t gain until junior high.

Perhaps I feel that this is one of those fleeting stages in your life, where if I’m not careful, it will already be gone before I had a chance to acknowledge it.

So I’m acknowledging it.

Before too long, you’ll be openly mocking Elmo and tying your own shoes.

Love,

Daddy

 

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Elmo’s World: Elmo Wonders DVD Review: Release Date, February 2nd, 2016

Elmo’s World: Elmo Wonders DVD Review: Release Date, February 2nd, 2016

This past weekend our family was able to get our hands on Elmo’s newest DVD; Elmo’s World: Elmo Wonders, which will hit the streets on February 2nd, 2016.

Aside from the bonus features, the DVD mainly consists of episodes of Elmo’s World. I let my son Jack decided which chapters he wanted our family to watch first.

He chose the “Firefighters” episode; his favorite part was the talking fire truck puppet.

But without a doubt, my son’s favorite segment was “Jumping.” As these pictures at the bottom demonstrate, Jack decided on his own that it was vital that he began jumping like Elmo and the kids on the video.

It’s been a while since the last time Jack was watched an Elmo DVD, so it was interesting to see how we reacted to Elmo; now as a 5 year-old, compared to when Jack was a 4 year-old.

Elmo’s World: Elmo Wonders DVD Review: Release Date, February 2nd, 2016

Therefore, another one of Jack’s favorite parts was when Elmo would ask the baby’s opinion on the subject.

He laughed so hard, recognizing the absurdity of asking a baby a legitimate question.

It’s interesting to see how once Jack grew past the age of Elmo (who is supposed to be around 3 and a half or 4 years old), he began to appreciate Elmo even more.

Because in theory, Jack is now in hindsight able to see the maturity level and coping skills of a younger kid, or red furry monster.

With a newborn sister scheduled to arrive in 3 months, I can see Jack becoming more away are his upcoming role as big brother. I can tell that he sees Elmo as a younger kid.

This DVD especially came in handy last weekend, as we were grounded in the middle of the blizzard. So when we weren’t playing in the snow, we could come inside and watch more Elmo.

It was a hit.

Elmo’s World: Elmo Wonders DVD Review: Release Date, February 2nd, 2016

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Sesame Street: Elmo Can Do It! DVD Review

Sesame Street: Elmo Can Do It! DVD Review

The moment my son saw the Elmo Can Do It! DVD, he immediately requested, “Daddy, I want to see the one where Elmo is a robot!”

As we watched the segment, Help-O-Bots, he didn’t say a word; he was mesmerized by seeing Elmo and his friends being Help-o-bots.

This DVD is over 2 hours long, which makes it ideal for a road trip; by the way.

What I noticed about it, as an adult, is that a common theme appeared to be introducing children to the concept of emotional intelligence.

As the label on the cover explains, the official themes are task persistence, friendship, and self-control.

Our family definitely had a great time finishing watching it tonight.

Sesame Street: Elmo Can Do It! DVD Review

Official Press Release:

SHARE YOUR FAVORITE FIRST MEMORIES WITH ELMO

AND THE SESAME STREET CREW AS WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT

AND SESAME WORKSHOP RELEASE

 

SESAME STREET: ELMO CAN DO IT!

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ON DVD OCTOBER 13, 2015!

 

BURBANK, CA (August 11, 2015) – Everyone remembers their first day of school or their first lost tooth. Now you can share these fabulous first memories with your Sesame Street friends in Sesame Street: Elmo Can Do It! This all new video compilation full of stories and songs takes you on a journey to discover all your favorite Sesame Street friend’s first encounters. From haircuts to sleepovers, preschoolers will enjoy learning life lessons, while addressing milestones and transitions in a fun way.Sesame Street: Elmo Can Do It!  is available on DVD October 13, 2015 for $14.98 SRP.

Start your adventure with Abby as she packs her wand and pajamas to embark on her first sleepover at Big Bird’s nest. Then, while Papa Bear and Mama Bear spend some time away, help Baby Bear get excited about meeting his new babysitter! Continue the fun with Elmo as he harnesses his writing skills and composes a letter for the first time. Finally, all your Sesame Street friends will come together for “National Try a New Food Day” as they each try a delicious treat they’ve never had before. You may even discover the first time Cookie Monster ate a cookie! All these firsts and more in Sesame Street: Elmo Can Do It!

“Warner Home Bros Home Entertainment is thrilled to release our next exciting and educational title, Sesame Street: Elmo Can Do It,” said Jeff Brown, WBHE Executive Vice President and GM of Non-Theatrical Franchise Marketing. “Kids now have the opportunity to view their favorite TV character’s first memories all on one fantastic DVD.”

Celebrating its impressive 45th anniversary this season, Sesame Street is the #1 top-of-mind preschool show with moms. The series has received more Emmy awards than any other show in television history, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award.

About Sesame Workshop

Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street which reaches 156 million children across more than 150 countries. The Workshop’s mission is to help kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder. Delivered through a variety of platforms, including television programs, digital experiences, books and community engagement, its research-based programs are tailored to the needs of the communities and countries they serve. For more information, visit us at www.sesameworkshop.org.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.

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Play All Day with Elmo! DVD: What My Son Liked Most

Play All Day with Elmo! DVD: What My Son Liked Most

Last night, my son and I sat down and watched the Play All Day with Elmo! DVD. As you can see from this photo collage I made below, my son only sat down in the beginning…

That’s because for most of the video, my son was up dancing and jumping and running around!

Therefore, I would suspect that the Play All Day with Elmo! DVD is an ideal companion for either a rainy day or a cold winter day.

I knew this DVD would have Elmo encouraging the viewers to get up and play, but I didn’t actually expect my son to do so. After all, it was at the end of a long, tiring day.

But I was wrong.

Play All Day with Elmo! DVD: What My Son Liked Most

He loved the Freeze Dance segment the very most. He genuinely and actively participated in physical exercise, simply because Elmo asked him to, and because my son saw the other kids doing it too on the TV.

However, that’s not the only portion of the DVD that encourages the viewer to get up and be physical. There is also Elmo Says and Red Light Green Light, to name a couple more.

Play All Day with Elmo! focuses on listening skills, self-control, and physical movement; running over 2 hours long and featuring guest stars including Jack Black and Taye Diggs.

Play All Day with Elmo! DVD: What My Son Liked Most

When you kid has energy to burn (which I assume is most of the time), popping in this DVD could be a perfect solution.

It might as well me entitled Shut Up and Dance with Elmo! but considering that “shut up” is considered a very bad word in the world of preschoolers, that probably wouldn’t have been the best marketing choice.

Basics

Street Date: September 8, 2015

Order Due Date: August 4, 2015

Languages: English

Audio: Dolby Stereo

Color

Run Time: Approximately 124 Minutes

Rating:  NR

SESAME STREET: PLAY ALL DAY WITH ELMO

Price: $14.98

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Sesame Street: Count on Elmo DVD Review

I couldn’t have planned it this way, but yesterday my 4 and a half year-old son came home from school in a counting mood. All during dinner, he was counting each bite of food. To my surprise, he successfully counted to 22; which is something I definitely couldn’t have done at his age.

Sesame Street: Count on Elmo DVD Review

The timing was perfect because last night was when I had already decided that we would sit down as a family and watch Sesame Street: Count on Elmo.

As soon as my son saw the video chapter for the one Cookie Monster counting cookies, he requested we start there.

My wife particularly commented that this is her most favorite Sesame Street DVD we’ve reviewed so far.

My son is proud to have Sesame Street: Count on Elmo DVD as part of his collection. I have a feeling he will be bringing it along on our next road trip!

Sesame Street: Count on Elmo is obviously educational all the way through, while of course using fun visuals and music the whole time.

SESAME STREET: COUNT ON ELMO

ON DVD AND DIGITAL JULY 7, 2015

 

Features Over Two Hours of Fun with Elmo and Bonus Elmo’s World Episode!

Celebrating its impressive 45th anniversary this season, Sesame Street is the longest-running program in children’s television programs. It has received more Emmy awards than any other show in television history, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award.