Best Educational/Instructional

A learn and play program encouraging grandparents and grandbabies to play together. It combines exercise, music, and learning. There are rhymes, circle-time activities, lullabies and tips on how to best physically interact with your grandbaby.... more

A series of videos that bridges the gap between the time a baby can communicate with his or her hands and the time a baby can speak. By giving parents and babies the ability to communicate without words, these videos reduce frustration and encourage rew... more

Ranny's Pick! I wish I would have known about this when my children were babies. Teaching babies sign language when they are right on the cusp of speaking is such a great way to bridge that transition, and reduces frustration for both the parent and the child. Highly recommended

Learn vocabulary with simple stories; adorable, bright, bold animation; and original music. Includes interactive games that can be played on TV with your remote control, printable Story Cards and bonus "Sleepytime" classical music CD.... more

Ranny's Pick! Combine watching this with real life experiences, please, to get the most out of it. Rather than sit your baby down in front of the DVD player, sit with her, repeat the words, and point to objects in the room that are the same as what's on the screen.

Learn vocabulary with simple stories; adorable, bright, bold animation; and original music.... more

Ranny's Pick! Combine watching this with real life experiences, please, to get the most out of it. Rather than sit your baby down in front of the DVD player, sit with her, repeat the words, and point to objects in the room that are the same as what's on the screen.

Inspires early language development from preverbal communication using sign language to first spoken words. Set to classical music, features beautiful real world images, delightful puppet shows, colorful toys in motion and babies.... more

Pink pigs, orange tractors and green grasshoppers introduce your child to the world of colors. Original music soundtrack! Includes interactive games: build "colors" characters on your home computer, on TV, or choose a colored box and see what's inside! P... more

Ranny's Pick! OK, I confess, I'm a real So Smart fan. These are really well done DVDs, perfect for your early learner. Simple. Straightforward. Uncomplicated. And, kids really enjoy them. My grandson was a So Smart fan until he was three.

Pink pigs, orange tractors and green grasshoppers introduce your child to the world of colors. Original music soundtrack.... more

Ranny's Pick! OK, I confess, I'm a real So Smart fan. These are really well done DVDs, perfect for your early learner. Simple. Straightforward. Uncomplicated. And, kids really enjoy them. My grandson was a So Smart fan until he was three.

Learn vocabulary with simple stories; adorable, bright, bold animation; and original music. Includes interactive games that can be played on TV with your remote control, printable story cards and bonus "Sleepytime" classical music CD.... more

Ranny's Pick! Wonderfully produced. Thoughtful, sensible, and cute. I'd say this is a perfect starter DVD for young babies. Combine it with real life experiences, and it will make all the difference in the world.

Bold, brightly colored animals and classical music are brought together to encourages language development and facilitate creative thinking.... more

Soothing new education video for babies. Jack is a puppy who lives in Central Park, New York City. He explores colors, shapes, animals, flowers, mountains, trees and more. Classical music pieces are performed by an award-winning concert pianist, Cheryl T... more

Ranny's Pick! This is so cute. I'm making sure that my grandson gets to watch it.

Puts your baby's day to music as you learn American Sign Language signs for eating, family and pets. Designed for babies with an age-appropriate pace, delightful animation and signing babies.... more

Join Jake and the Pocket Snails on a magical adventure learning the letters of the alphabet. DVD includes interactive activities, music player, Meet the Snails, company bio and TV commercial.... more

Teaches ASL signs for family members, feelings, and things you find outside. Divided into family songs, outside songs, and feelings.... more

Ranny's Pick! I love this series. This producer has really done a fabulous job of creating DVDs that are very timely and useful. If you're aware of how teaching children sign language has a very positive affect on their language development, you'll appreciate the high quality of these programs.

Join Alex, Leah, their frog Hopkins, and Signing Time's Rachel Coleman for more "Signing Time" fun! Teaches the alphabet in American Sign Language, and introduces more than 50 signs for words corresponding to different letters. Sign and sing along with t... more

Ranny's Pick! I highly recommend the titles in this excellent series. They're great for helping kids in their language development. Bravo Two Little Hands Productions. Good work!

Join Alex, Leah, their frog Hopkins, and Signing Time's Rachel Coleman for more signing fun! Teaches ASL signs for fruits, vegetables, colors of the rainbow, and activities. Divided into segments for colors; and fruits and veggies, and activities, Inclu... more

Ranny's Pick! Excellent DVD. All of the titles in this series are great and they all got All-Star ratings from KIDS FIRST! which in itself is a miracle as our jurors are very stingy with that rating. It has to be outstanding to get one.

These songs focus on things that are important for little people to learn and practice in their families, pre-school and day-care. There are 8 original songs, each is repeated once to minimize interruptions. The songs are fun to sing and the accompanying... more

Ranny's Pick! Highly recommended. Great selections for 2 to 7-year-olds.

Babies and toddlers are captivated as simple shapes and moving patterns transform into familiar images, all with a live classical music soundtrack. Activity guide included. The DVD includes parent-guided interactive storybook features and printable story... more

Ranny's Pick! I agree with our jurors, "if you accompany your baby when watching this, there's no other DVD that's better." This is a perfect title to add to your early learning collection.

Introducing, The Danger Rangers brought to you by an Emmy & Oscar winning creative team headed by Howard Kazanjian (Star Wars). Empowering safety information is taught to children as they are entertained by the loveable animal superheroes' adventures, co... more

Documentary that takes the viewer through a typical day in the lives of two families living in Israel, showing their way of life, family interaction, foods, and celebrations. Visits their countryside, cities, communities, schools and homes.... more

Shows a wide variety of planes from passenger planes to fighter jets. Take-offs, landings, history and "why planes fly" are shown in a factual, fun narrative.... more

Two children, in both rural and urban landscapes, share their daily world with the viewer. Live-action program presents the customs and culture of the U.K. including foods, celebrations, family interaction, schools, home and more.... more

Documentary that takes the viewer through a typical day in the lives of two families in Korea. From breakfast to bedtime, see their way of life: family interactions, foods and celebrations. Visits their countryside, cities, communities, schools and homes... more

Exposes children to early developing sounds and words, as well as introducing them to simple sign language. A 12-step tutorial at the end provides caregivers with ideas to encourage language development.... more

Ranny's Pick! The best part of this DVD, in my estimation is the end portion which gives a mini lesson on babies' language development. Although we played this for some babies, who were marginally attentive, I feel the strength of this DVD is in it's appeal to parents.

Dance and exercise program based on creative movement philosophy. Teaches action words as well as movement.... more

Braincandy is an inventive series that focuses on children learning about themselves and the world through their five senses. Braincandy introduces concepts about the five senses. Original music score.... more

Ranny's Pick! If you look at this title for it's visual appeal, it makes sense. As a learning tool, it is not realistic to think that 2-5-year-oles can understand the concept that the brain controls the senses. They can, and do understand that we have different senses. Stop here with the lesson and you'll be fine.

Using animation and nursery songs, Spanish-speaking hosts introduce infants to the Spanish language.... more

Ranny's Pick! I've already confessed to being a So Smart fan and here's a perfect Spanish language version. If you want your baby to be bi-lingual, you couldn't find anything better than this for infacts up to age 3.

Shows happy expressive faces in familiar surroundings to delight and entertain your baby. Exposes viewers to people of all races, sizes, shapes and ages.... more

An entertaining teaching aid to facilitate language-learning while prompting a positive learning environment. Teaches ten colors via live images, animation and classical music.... more

All the original Brainy Baby songs that children enjoy singing along to on one CD. Includes: "26 Letters," "Name Your Shapes," and others. Reinforces ideas and behaviors such as manners, seasons, and numbers.... more

Ranny's Pick! Includes: 1. ABC's; I Spy Something..; 3. Body In Motion; 4. Listen!; 5. Old MacDonald;6. Mind Your Manners; 7. Name Your Shapes; 8. Counting To Twenty; 9. Bingo;10. Seasons Change; 11. 26 Letters

Using real kids, Whiz Kidz shows the basics of ABC's, counting, colors, animal sounds, body parts, safety tips and more.... more

Interactive, featuring colorful animation and beautifully orchestrated nursery songs. A musical picture book for baby and parents to share. Enchanting shapes, colors and familiar objects to help baby develop language skills and prepare your child to read... more

Introduces eight animals that live in God's world and an opportunity for parents to teach their baby animal names and the concept of large and small. Engaging animation and motion photography of real animals are underscored with classical music.... more

Designed to calm fussy babies before bedtime. Begins with a children's prayer. The animated characters yawn as night approaches. Real babies slumber away in dreamland. Mesmerizing motion footage is underscored with classical lullabies.... more

An entertaining teaching program designed to ease language-learning while promoting a positive environment for the child. This volume teaches numbers 1 to 20 via live images, animation, claymation, and classical music.... more

Ranny's Pick! Dr. Toy - "This is a series of educational videos that helps children learn language. The video teaches 10 basic colors --- images of various objects and animals in each color. There are graphics and animations that make the videos easy to enjoy. Children can interact by repeating what is said. There is good music playing in the background. There are fun skits and these can be used in a classroom as well as at home. They are simple and easy to follow. The narrator names the color and the objects and it makes a great product to enjoy at any time. The series includes the alphabet, colors and numbers. These are well produced and make a very valuable educational experience as well as a good entertaining program."

Help your child be safe and successful with dogs. Includes safety tips, comedy, 12 original songs, puppet hosts Stately the mutt and Remix the alley cat, plus dozens of real dogs and kids. A portion of every sale funds humane education programs for kids... more

Children are provided with simple techniques that they will enjoy, remember and use. Provides a creative association between the alphabet, animals and yoga poses.... more

Ranny's Pick! Great title that talks to a child exactly at his or her level. It is not condescending at all. The instructor's voice is calm and exact. She's thorough as she presents a different pose for each letter of the alphabet, helping kids to remember both the poses and the letters.

Kids learn to move their bodies in ways that mimic the world around them, and as a result to from a high energy level to a relaxing, calming level.... more

Ranny's Pick! Intelligent, escellent, and it works. Calms kids right down.

The town jocks have exiled a boy named Elliot from their zany new game, Flobo, and given him a cruel nickname. But the Good Sports Gang knows that everyone has a talent and they're off to the rescue. Elliot learns that everyone is a champ.... more

Join the Pocket Snails on their new and exciting adventure, where they'll make some new underwater friends, ride in a submarine and scuba dive their way to learning the sounds of the letters. Helps teach letter sounds, vowels and letter recognition.... more

Join Olympic champion Mike Barrowman as he and his friends discover the fascinating creatures that live underwater. This mix of comedy, education and live underwater footage makes learning about the sea entertaining.... more

Uses sign language, music and movement for all children to enhance proven learning styles; visual, musical, verbal and physical. Teaches the alphabet and over 100 words.... more

Includes: The Emerald City, Munchkinland, and Yellow Brick Road. Dorothy - played by former American Gladiator Cheryl Silch - and her friends finally meet the Great Oz, only to find that he is couch potato. When they find the (N)Ice Witch, Dorothy uses ... more

Interactive training tool for children on the dangers of abduction. Uses dramatic situations, worksheets and coloring sheets.... more

Watch your child name and number twenty trucks in action. This fun and informative video teaches children about more about twenty different kinds of trucks and the work they perform.... more

Mike and the gang dive into the depths of the sea and explore it with the their bubble sub. They explore the coral reef and its beautiful, sometimes weird creatures.... more

Movement is the language of the brain. The Capt'N Gravity Ranger Program improves your child's learning skills through exercise. Improved coordination promotes improved learning. Movement knowledge is brain science. Step into your learning curve.... more