Watch what happens when one mother’s little calf falls into a pool of water and can’t get back out on its own.

Amazing right? The mama and her pals don’t panic; they just jump into action, trying everything they can to get that little elephant out together. I’m not ashamed to say this video brought a tear to my eye. Never underestimate the power of a mother and her friends.

I think this video is a prime example of what they mean by the African proverb: It takes a village to raise a child. Sure, the main responsibility of raising a child falls to his parents, but without a great support system and the life experience that comes with learning from others, it would be an extremely difficult job. Having a support system to help, love and nurture is a necessity for every parent and child.

It’s easy to raise your head with pride and say, “I (or we) can do this on my (our) own,” but as these elephants have shown, even parenting is easier and just plain better with those who love and care by your side. I can’t count the times that my friends and I have had to call on each other when we were in a pinch, whether it was picking up one of our kids from school or lending a few bucks in an emergency.

The animal kingdom, elephants and humans included, was designed to not have to stand alone in parenting. When we stand together, there’s nothing we can’t do, and our children are all better for it.

No related posts.

I loved watching The Muppet Show while I was growing up, and there’s no doubt that my kids share my appreciation for Jim Henson’s legacy. We’ve got a whole collection of Muppet movies, and as more become available, we’ll certainly add them, too.

I once read that Jim Henson didn’t dream that his puppets would become as huge as they have been for over five decades. He was just trying to break into TV. Whoever gave him that first break, introduced the world to an entertainment genius. His family-friendly characters and storytelling remain unparalleled, as evidenced by my children’s sparkling eyes when they hear the familiar Sesame Street tune or beg to watch Muppet Treasure Island…again. And, truth be told, as a lifelong fan of the Muppets and other Jim Henson creations (“I’ll get you, Fraggles!”), I can’t help but get sucked in every time…and I don’t mind one bit.

So, as you can imagine, I’m pretty stoked about Disney’s newest addition to the Muppet library, The Muppets, hitting theaters in November. The film follows Jason Segal, Amy Adams and, of course, the whole Muppet gang as they reunite to raise $10 million to save the Muppet Theater from being demolished by an oil tycoon. It’s sure to be as hilarious as all the other Muppet films before it. My family has yet to be disappointed.

As the months draw nearer to the release of the film, Muppet mania is starting to grow. In celebration, they’ve released an album of classic Muppets diddies sung by some of today’s best indie, rock and alternative acts. Some of the artists your family can sing along with are The Fray, Weezer & Hayley Williams, and Alkaline Trio. You can check out Muppets: The Green Album on iTunes, but to whet your appetite, enjoy this video for the Muppet Show Theme Song performed by OK Go and the Muppets.

Photo and Video: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

No related posts.

When I was growing up, I was always curious about different languages. My dad was fluent in Spanish, and we had family friends who communicated through sign language. Listening and watching my dad and our friends talk was always interesting to me, so I like to expose my children to different programs, books and television shows that encourage them to explore languages.

Exposing your children to different cultures and languages not only teaches them about various ways to communicate, but promotes acceptance and understanding for other people. At the end of the day, no matter who we are or where we’re from, we all have valuable, amazing ways to communicate.

Getting your children interested in learning other languages can be as simple as showing them just how cool a language can be. Spoken languages each have their own own individual styles, rhythms and sounds. For a visual communication, like sign language, body language and facial expressions are as important to getting a message across as the actual motions and gestures being made.

Letting your children see and hear different languages may spark their interest. When I was growing up, the Internet wasn’t even available yet, so when I decided to learn more about Spanish and sign language, I turned to books. Books are incredible tools, but it’s really hard to fully appreciate unfamiliar languages unless you can see and hear them being used.

The Internet is awesome for helping your children explore other languages. With a site like YouTube, there’s always fresh and fun new clips and videos to share with your children. You can find examples of most languages, many of which are geared specifically towards a younger pair of eyes and ears. Take, for example, these two short videos introducing the Spanish alphabet (which is slightly different from the American one) and American alphabet shown using sign language.

The Spanish Alphabet Song

The American Alphabet in Sign Language

Children have hungry minds and are fascinated by new languages. Giving them opportunities to see, hear and experience the languages of different cultures helps them to understand and appreciate the beautiful diversity all the people of the world have to offer.

No related posts.

I thought I’d calm the situation with a little YouTube therapy, so I typed in “funny children’s books.” Out popped a couple of promising, and thankfully short, videos and my kids’ interests were peaked. While they were entertained, sniffling, sobbing and outright bawling occurred between every video.

That’s when it broke bad. I thought, “What we need here is a song.” Good thinking, brainiac. The first video I clicked on was this:

The first time we watched it, they were mesmerized.  The second time we watched, they began to sing along. The ninth time we watched it, I posted it on my Facebook page to torment my friends. The 13th (literally) time we watched it…I switched my loads of laundry.

I finally had to pull a quick “click, oops…it’s broke” maneuver for the safety of my own mental health. But now? I can’t get the song out of my head. As if I’d have the chance with my boys running around my house singing it at the top of their lungs.

Word to the wise: Just because a video is safe for your kids to watch, doesn’t mean you’ll be happy they watched it.

I’m a happy banana…a happy banana…ahhhhhhhhhh!

No related posts.

I was pleasantly surprised by the videos they offered. They’re just as the title suggests, simple songs, like “Five Little Monkeys” and the “ABC Song” set to video images.

My kids love them. They especially enjoyed the Japanese version of “Twinkle Twinkle.” The song is soft and melodic, and the accompanying video is of a CGI owl who meets a star. It’s absolutely adorable, and also available in English.

Each video is different and the creators use variety of types of imagery from cartoons and CGI to stop-motion filming and live action (with puppets). The various looks are visually stimulating and interesting, to children and keep things fresh from video to video.

My kids, ages 5, 3 and 1, are all gathered around me now watching the videos on one half of my computer screen, as I write on the other. Thankfully, I have a 22-inch screen. In any event, this is the most settled they’ve been all morning, and it is affording me the opportunity to work without refereeing. That alone has prompted me to subscribe to the channel, but the videos are well-produced, short and fun, too.

When I’m looking for videos for my kids, it’s important to me that they’re educational, but fun and different, as well. The offerings on the Super Simple Songs channel totally fits the bill. My children are loving it, and I feel good about what they’re watching.

No related posts.

Big Bird and the rest of the Sesame Street gang were not only fun and entertaining, but also very educational. The show consisted of short films, humor, music and educational lessons that teach the basics of counting, spelling and enunciating words. It was a great way to prepare for preschool. Now you can give your children the opportunity to enjoy this experience, too. Borders currently has a great offer that you won’t want to miss.

Shop online at Borders.com and buy one Sesame Street title and get another one half off. Choose from a variety of Sesame Street titles featuring Big Bird, Elmo, Bert and Ernie, the Cookie Monster and much more! Just use this Borders coupon when you check out. Make sure you make your purchases by March 28, 2011.

No related posts.

“Animaniacs” was often filled with the typical nonsensical, slapstick animated fare, but from time to time, they would feature a song that was quirky, fun, educational and bound to get stuck in your head. One of my favorite songs was “The President Song.” I actually had it memorized during high school and used it to pass a history test. You gotta do what you gotta do, right?

In honor of Presidents Day, I share with you a blast from the past…

The Aninmaniacs singing The President Song….

Happy Presidents Day!

No related posts.

As you have probably already heard, Disney is offering refunds or DVD upgrades for Baby Einstein videos purchased between June 5, 2004 and September 4, 2009. Why? Apparently many parents felt they were being led to believe that Baby Einstein videos were educational when in fact, they are not. But really, who truly would believe that plunking a baby in front of the television is educational? If parents really thought they were being good parents by encouraging their little babies to zone out in front of the tube maybe they shouldn’t get their fifteen bucks back anyway! Common sense, right?!

Anyway, if you have a few of these DVDs around the house and you want to get some cash back or exchange them for something better, follow these instructions:

To participate, you must have purchased a Baby Einstein DVD between June 5, 2004 and September 4, 2009.

If you are not satisfied with the Baby Einstein DVD you purchased during the period mentioned above, for a limited time beginning on September 4, 2009 and ending on March 4, 2010, you may exchange it for one of the following:

One (1) Baby Einstein Book of your choice

One (1) Baby Einstein music CD of your choice

- Or -

One (1) coupon for 25% off the purchase of one Little Einsteins™ product. Redeemable with promotion code only at DisneyStore.com.

Or you may return it, and we will refund the current retail value of the DVD ($15.99). (read more)

Related posts:

1. Baby Blogging Review
2. Another Funny Baby Video
3. Hilarious ‘Baby Fight’ Video

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Related posts:

1. Internet Blogging: So Awesome, a 7-Year-Old Can Do It
2. Memory Keepsake: Make Your Own Happiness Journal
3. Pictionary Man: Makes the Game Fun for All

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Related posts:

1. Best “Clean Up Your Room” Song Ever!
2. Kids Are Honest: Gotta Love Them!
3. Memory Keepsake: Make Your Own Happiness Journal