Friday, January 15, 2010

Young Minds: Numbers and Counting by Math Tutor DVD





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Last year, as members of the TOS Homeschool Crew, we were able to  review two different DVDs from Math Tutor DVD.   I was looking forward to reviewing a different tutoring DVD this year, but instead we were sent a wonderful new product for preschool children.  My 3 youngest children love this DVD!




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Young Minds:  Numbers and Counting DVD is a bright and charming DVD which teaches numbers to preschool children.  Colorful images (and videos) of animals, nature, and objects are displayed on the screen, while classical music plays in the background.  A child's voice counts the objects, and the corresponding sound for the objects is also heard.  Several different images are shown for each number (1 - 10) , and they are counted each time to reinforce the concept. 

The Details:
The Numbers & Counting feature runs for 35 minutes, and the DVD also includes 15 minutes of bonus material counting puzzle pieces, connect the dots, and a guess the animal game.   The classical music pieces are from the following composers:

  • Bach

  • Beethoven

  • Mozart

  • Chopin

  • Brahms

  • Vivaldi


You can view a sample excerpt  of the  Young Minds: Numbers and Counting  DVD here.  The DVD can be purchased for $19.99 at the Math Tutor website, which is $5.00 off the list price

The ElCloud Opinion:
I am very pleased with the quality of this DVD.  The images used are bright, colorful, close-up pictures, and the music selections are so pleasant and soothing to hear.  It doesn't get annoying to listen to at all.   My youngest three children are right in the target age range for this product (ages 1, 3, and 5), and they enjoy watching it.  The 5 year old (nearly 6) enjoys it less than the other two, but it is definitely a hit in our home.   

Our favorite images were the nature images, which is what the DVD begins with.   Our kids laughed as they counted the number of times a lizard stuck out his tongue.  We all went "awww" when we saw the ducklings following their mother.   The clear close-up photo of a tree frog spawned more conversation.

While we have enjoyed this DVD during our play time, it can also be used as a fun school activity for preschool children.  I think it would also be a good choice for nap time.  I've had a few children who reached an age that the only way I could get them to nap was to have them lay down with a blanket in a darkened living room, while watching a carefully selected movie that would interest them without exciting them.  THIS is the perfect choice for that.  The DVD even includes a Repeat Play option that would work perfectly for nap times.

We had viewed the DVD several times before we clicked on the bonus features.  Shh ... don't tell anyone, but my 8 and 10 year old kids were also enjoying the bonus features.  The first feature captured their attention as puzzles were pieced together (counting as you go of course) revealing a photo.  The second feature completes dot-to-dot drawings, counting all the way.  The third feature focuses very closely on parts of an animal, moving around slowly and giving hints, before zooming out so you can see what the animal was.   Two more fun ways to teach counting, and one way to engage the mind in a guessing game.

We love the Young Minds:  Numbers and Counting DVD!  I can't think of a single negative thing about it.  I hope Math Tutor DVD creates more Young Minds DVDs in the future.
This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew.  We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion.  Click the TOS Homeschool Crew banner at the top to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,
April