BABYPRO: Let's Dance and Tumble!

BABYPRO: Let's Dance and Tumble!

by BABYPRO

Introduce your child to the dynamic sights and sounds of cheerleading, dance and gymnastics. Charming images of toes tapping, hands clapping and bodies tumbling are synchronized with lively classical scores from Mozart, Vivaldi, Strauss and more. Supportive voice-overs offer gentle encouragement while language skills are reinforced by the repetition of active words and phrases.

Filled with jumps, twirls, rolls and more, this is a wonderful DVD introduces toddlers to the wonder and joy of movement. With segments focusing on cheerleading, dancing and gymnastics, young children will be fascinated by the variety of exciting activities. The film moves seamlessly from toddler-appropriate beginning activities to watching the "big kids" take lessons to finally witnessing the professionals. Classical music by Mozart, Vivaldi and others provides soothing background sounds while a kind and reassuring voice encourages kids to try some of the simple movements.

By introducing kids to athletic adventures at an early age, this DVD helps to promote a healthy lifestyle. While babies and toddlers will simply enjoy the bright colors and action, preschoolers may be inspired to take ballet or gymnastics lessons. One section of the dance segment helps kids learn the names of body parts by saying, "Dance with your feet/legs/arms/etc." and showing a close-up of that part dancing. Dance vocabulary is also highlighted with terms such as plié and pirouette.

Emily, the little girl babysit, has taken little gym classes for a while and is familiar with the basics of gymnastics. She loved all the tumbling and was amazed by the flips the professionals performed. She also enjoyed the sections on the kids just like her and excitedly told me, "Mama helps me do that!" when the kids were doing forward rolls and walking on the balance beam.

--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.