Thomas and Friends, has been around for years now, first on television and later on video and DVD. Many parents may now be discovering it for the first time on DVD and wonder "Is it a good show for young viewers?"
In my opinion, this is an excellent program for young children, especially toddlers (age 2 and up). This program uses stop motion model trains as its central characters and each episode teaches a practical life lesson about getting along with others, sharing and in general respect for others. This is done in way that is both fun and exciting for little kids. These videos/DVDs used in conjunction with reading some of the Thomas books and playing with the toy trains can be used as teaching tools for parents. Young children can learn things like colors, numbers and increase their vocabulary. Many of the newer DVDs contain interactive features such as memory games. I've been amazed as my 2 and 3 year old gets the answers right.
In conclusion, the older Thomas shows are well written, mostly based on the original children books by W.Awdry and narrated by the likes of Ringo Star and Alec Baldwin. They hold up very well now and will be quickly adored by the average 2 and 3 year old.
The newer incarnation of Thomas and Friends available on DVD features improved animation techniques and more interactive/teaching features. Visually more appealing, the newer stories are written more for younger viewers in mind (and not just following the books).
In a world where many shows and movies supposedly for young children are full of violence and fighting, the Thomas and Friends DVD collection is a safe, gentle place for parents and their young children.
In my opinion, this is an excellent program for young children, especially toddlers (age 2 and up). This program uses stop motion model trains as its central characters and each episode teaches a practical life lesson about getting along with others, sharing and in general respect for others. This is done in way that is both fun and exciting for little kids. These videos/DVDs used in conjunction with reading some of the Thomas books and playing with the toy trains can be used as teaching tools for parents. Young children can learn things like colors, numbers and increase their vocabulary. Many of the newer DVDs contain interactive features such as memory games. I've been amazed as my 2 and 3 year old gets the answers right.
In conclusion, the older Thomas shows are well written, mostly based on the original children books by W.Awdry and narrated by the likes of Ringo Star and Alec Baldwin. They hold up very well now and will be quickly adored by the average 2 and 3 year old.
The newer incarnation of Thomas and Friends available on DVD features improved animation techniques and more interactive/teaching features. Visually more appealing, the newer stories are written more for younger viewers in mind (and not just following the books).
In a world where many shows and movies supposedly for young children are full of violence and fighting, the Thomas and Friends DVD collection is a safe, gentle place for parents and their young children.