Good Dvds for 19 Month Old Toddler

The Wiggles are a great show with lots of music and dancing. My son loved the Wiggles... it took him a few times to watch to actually like it..and then he was hooked. The great part about it is that the Wiggles songs aren't annoying like other toddler shows can be. Hope this helps.

Dear B.,

Nothing beats Dan Zanes, he appeals to everyone and his videos are loads of fun. We have many cd's and watch the video's on his web site. He does have a DVD available also.
Hope you give him a try, I even listen to him when the kids are not in the car.

C.

my kids loved Raffi, the Baby Einstein series (there are tons of those now), and the Hap Palmer ones (Baby Songs I think)
A.

Veggie Tales are our family favorite. They have music in the story and many have a silly song mid-way through the story. They also have entire collections of silly songs. They are value based so even though some of the stories are a little silly they have a moral lesson. this makes these a video that she can enjoy and learn from for several years.

Hi B.,

Baby Eistein are wonderful - my three year olds (twins) still love watching them.

T. A.

Both my boys still LOVE the baby einstein videos! The baby Newton, Baby Neptune and Baby Noah especially! My boys are 2 and 4.5! good luck!

My son loved the Wiggles and the Baby Einstein videos. The Wiggles more because he could dance with them though

Our son LOVES The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh. He's watching it right now. Also Baby Einstein videos I hear are great.

If I remember correctly, Disney has a series of Sing a Long DVD's. Maybe you could check the DVD section of Babies-R-US. My son loves Diego, and also the Cars movie.

Try "They Might Be Giant's ABCs and 123s." My daughter absolutely loves these DVDS...and they come with a CD with the same music so when we're in the car she listens to the songs and envisions what's going on in the movie. We started out with the music for a few months and once she was like 16 months we popped in the movie and she just had a ball watching her songs come to life on TV! I'm also convinced this is why my daughter is so proficient at all the letters and can count to 20 already. They're really fun DVDs to watch--and the music isn't all that annoying either!

B.,

You've already gotten lots of great advice. I just wanted to add a side note. I'd suggest you preview any "movies" before you show them to your daughter. (One Mom mentioned Disney movies) They are actually rated for 6 years and up (like the Little Mermaid) and many parents are letting the kids watch them at 2. In their early years, I think their imaginations are so powerful, it is important to reserve most Disney movies till they are much older. The drama, dark characters, intense music and lighting... are very powerful and letting them watch these so young desensitises them. Also, I think it adds to the nightmare factor and insecurities that children are already prone to. Anyway, that's my two cents. I know you are not interested in this type of video yet, I just thought I'd throw that out there. So many parents seem to think its fun (and it is for older children and adults) and harmless. I just wanted to put the thought in your head before you reached that point in life.

Good luck. We love Baby Einstein and all sing along movies. We have a VCR still and I go to the thrift or consignment stores and buy older videos for $1-5. It is a great way to check out a bunch of shows without spending much. Variety can make your life better, and if you don't approve of the tape, it wasn't a big investment. I'd preview them first, because the Disney sing alongs come from the Disney movies and the "Never smile at a Crocodile" song from "Under the Sea" scares the pants off of my 3 year old. I unfortunately did not preview this one. Laurie Berkner has been a great influence on my children too. My 3 year old used to insist we call her "Ms. Laurie" when she'd run around the house carrying a play guitar :)

Take care,
Liz

Try Bunny Town on Disney. It is produced by the same people that produced Jacks Big Music Show, its got a story line, but its not too long, and the music style is similar. The only difference is there is no music break to any videos from others! Also, if your daughter is into music, try Rocknoceros, they are local from here, and play and Jammin Java every Wednesday, but recently I found them On Demand, Freezone on Cox Cable. They are GREAT!!! just google them and you should find a bunch of things!!!

Hi B.,

Yes, we love the music over hear too but I know what you mean about Victor Vito! Anyway, you may want to try Here Come the ABC's and Here Come the 123's. They are both by They Might Be Giants and it is a different sound than Laurie Berkner but they are both very good! My kids LOVE them and they are very catchy tunes. My kids are 4, 3 and 11 month old twins. My husband and I enjoy them too! You'll find yourself singing along to it all! Also From A to Z is a Sesame Street singing DVD which is good. Any of the Leap Frog, Letter Factory, Word Factory, Math Factory - they are all good singing and learning DVD's!!!

B., Great topic, thanks!

Two questions, are you up to date on the "side effects" of watching TV at such an early age? Are you willing to take the risk with your child?

Over 9 years ago, I did a speech at Toastmasters on the impact of TV watching on kids and even back than the evidence was stacked up against it - very eye-opening. Why don't you do a quick search on "tv watching for toddlers" and check out the latest findings, consider your long term goal with your tolddler (18yrs); then make your decision about the next DVD....

I work in the wellness industry now and it is alarming the practices/choices we do and their shocking impact to our kids physical and emotional wellness - attention problems, obesity, heart disease, decreased life span, etc.

All of our everyday choices add up to create/develop our children into a certain type of adult. Plus there are things we don't have control over, so be sure to try and choose wisely about the stuff you do have control over.

Hi B.,

Here are some web sites for DVD's:

www.misskimdance.com

http://www.musicaltoysplus.com/toddlermusic.htm

http://cd.co.uk/children_dance_music_for_toddlers_various...#

There are also Kindermusik classes in some areas.

Hope this helps. Good luck. D.

Keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends NO TV for children until they are at least 2 years old.

I am 46 with two children (12 & 13). When they were toddlers, they loved Barney. Barney became my best baysitter while I did household chores (wash clothes, dishes, scrub kitchen floors etc). Barney tapes sustain their undivided attention and they learned little positive etiquetts.

My daughter loved The Wiggles. You just have to be careful when you buy it, because we have two that are completely different. One is more of a storyline/movie with a plot and some singing along the way- the other is almost constant singing. Wiggly Safari is the one we have with almost all singing...your daughter would probably like it.
K.

I have no idea who Laurie Berkner is but we are also fans of Jack's Big Music Show. My son loves to sing and dance to the Wiggles. We don't have cable so only get videos at the library and I was a little resistant to the Wiggle idea at first but have come to love them myself. I really noticed a dramatic difference in my son's counting, talking and physical abilities to follow dance moves when we introduced him to the Wiggles at about that age. He learned to count to three just from watching it twice because they nicely reinforce little lessons like that. Read up about them online--I was pleasantly surprised to learn more about them.

B.,

I have a 4 year old and a 21 month old. They enjoy watching VeggieTales and just about any Disney movie, but I don't let them watch some of them because my kids like to pick out inappropriate phrases. Anyway, they love Little Einsteins and Mickey Mouse Club House. In these videos they learn to clap their hands to music ans count and recognize pictures. It's really awesome. Have fun.

My daughter is almost 2, and she loves the Baby Einstein DVDs. They have helped teach her about animals, like what sounds each animal makes, she can tell you what each animal is called, etc. We watch them together and copy each animal sound. They also have Baby Einstein DVDs to help teach sign language and colors, and more.
She is also starting to like the Little Einsteins, which is by the same people, just for toddlers. They do a lot with music & problem solving.

Hi B.,

Try the Wiggles. They're lots of fun, have stories and music and are quite colorful. She's just the right age for them!

D.

Baby Einstein DVDs!!! and introduction to classic music and they are awesome, my kids are 4 and 7 and still enjoy them,

R.

The Wiggles are good for music. Little Bear & Berenstein Bears are favorites in our house. My 19 month son absolutely loves "the bears".

There are some other good recommendations listed by others for music-- Doodle Bops & Little Einsteins are also sometimes watched in our house, though the Disney lineup has changed, and neither of those shows are on at a time when I want my son watching TV (which is a limited time).

I hope you find something she enjoys, that you can enjoy as well.

My son always loved 'Hi-5' on discovery kids. Lots of singing and dancing and storytelling in a grassroots sort of way- no hi-tech computer graphics. They act out the stories, as one of the host reads it, is "homemade" looking costumes. 'Super Why' is cool too on MPT, four superheroes with the power to read(2 girls & 2 boys). And, my son is 5 now and still LOVES 'Dragon Tales', you cannot go wrong with MPT kids(Sesame Street, clifford the Big Red Dog,Curious George). I am also partial to the shows on Discovery kids. Good luck- you really have to screen stuff these days, so many networks squeeze in the potty/adult humor when you least expect it!

Both of my children loved (and still love) the Baby Einstein series. Before purchasing them, check them out from your local library and see how she likes them. There are others there, like the Wiggles. My kids never liked them, but other moms told me their children enjoyed the music. Also, on PBS, 12:30 pm. Rags is kind of cute. You can see if she likes that. Has a bit more narration, though, but lots of music. Some of the Sesame Street videos worked, well, too. Enjoy.

At that age all my son would watch was the Wiggles and Barney-it's almost all singing and dancing. There are some Disney Sing a Long movies which he would sit through occasionally, but it was Wiggles and Barney in our house for about a year before he moved on.
Even now, he's 4 and we still watch the same movie for a week or so. I just read most of the time or get things done around the house if I can sneak away a little. When he was 2, I took a shower while he watched so I wasn't really watching anyway. It's good for kids to watch (and read, and sing, etc...) the same things repeatedly: it helps them learn.
Once he reached 3, he started watching some of the Little Einsteins series, Sesame Street, most of the shows on the Disney channel and Noggin: Dora, Diego, Winnie the Pooh, Little Bear, etc...

Baby Einstein DVD's are really good. They have a lot of music throughout the DVD but I am not sure if it is really dance music. It is usually classical music but all of my children have loved these DVD's.

My children love the signing time videos. You can rent them at the library or order them online at signingtime.com They teach your child sign language by singing and animation. My children love them!

My 16 month old ADORES "Hi-5"...and my other two girls loved this show around these ages also. Mostly songs, some short "stories". Very cute and colorful

When I was pregnant, I promised myself that I would never own a Barney or Wiggles video. Well, The Wiggles are actually quite cool - get their stage show DVDs, not the TV shows. My four-year old has loved them - I only had CDs of them until she was about three, so she got a kick when she first saw a video. And yes, I have actually partied with The Wiggles duiring their DC show. However, I still won't go near Barney.

For future reference, Dora and Blue's Clues are pretty good and engages the two year old crowd.

I have lots of suggestions (because I think I may have every DVD known to man!). The Wiggles are always a huge hit, and Barney, if you can take it :)
Curious Buddies, Dora (Diego may be a little old for her), Blues Clues, Bear in the Big Blue House, Sesame Street makes lots of different ones. Also, if you get the cable channel, Noggin, pretty much every show on there is great (and no toy commercials!).
If you're looking for music CDs, try Dan Zanes. He's our personal favorite, and you'll still sound cool driving down the road :)

Cedarmont Kids has great music & dancing videos. They get kids together to sing & "portray" the different children's songs. My kids LOVE them! You can find them at most retailers like Walmart & Target, or you can find a better selection at just about any Christian Book Store. They have a website where you can look at their products & find the stores near you to purchase. Good luck & God bless!

little einstein and backyardigans possibly the wiggles.

I too do not see the issue with letting toddlers watch TV. I have seen it both ways...a friend of mine when her daughter was only laying on her belly and back she would sit her in front of the TV and you COULD NOT break her concentration unless you waved a hand in front of her face. At THAT young age, there are other things to do besides put them in front of the TV. My daughter (now 28 months old) didn't start getting interested in anything on TV or videos until she was about 19 months old...even then she'd rather have us read to her or have a boook in her hand so we would do other things instead. Now, for the sanity of myself to be able to get something done, I just turn on the Noggin channel or Nick Jr. and she likes Dora, Diego, The Backyardigans, the Wonder Pets, Blues Clues and Oswald. She also likes the Elmo's World DVD and the Many Adventres of Winnie the Pooh (we read the actual book to her too and she loves it). She may watch the TV for awhile but then go and do something else or play on her own. I think she just likes to hear it as background noise and prefers it.

As a side note, when I was pregnant I vowed NOT to have her get hooked on Dora and Diego and that she'd never watch them (because I felt she needed to learn english before spanish or another language)....BOY WAS I WRONG. She absolutely loves Dora and Diego and at 19 months old, she was counting to 10 in english AND spanish. I didn't really realize it until one day we were christmas shopping and she was counting the holes in the shopping cart in Spanish...I was like..."what is she saying?"...."Oh my gosh, she's counting in spanish!" So, deep down it has helped her. Now, at 28 months old, she can still count to 10 in spanish, 14 in english, knows her shapes (working on colors), and can speak and comprehend words in Spanish such as "espera (wait), abre (open), sube (climb), excave (dig)", etc. She tells our dog when we take him outside..."Espera Rumple!" It's so cute. :-) She also knows all of her body parts and animal sounds (she picked up from Diego). We ask her what's a llama say and she says, "Hum, hum!" (which is what they sound like), etc. Of course, what she learned isn't totally from what she watches...we work with her EVERY day and practice. The videos and TV are just reinforcements.

Sorry...lots of info...to sum it up and answer your question...I suggest Dora, Diego, The Backyardigans, Wonder Pets, Blue's Clues, Winnie the Pooh (even from the Disney Channel), Elmo's World, even Baby Einsteins (we have some of those movies, too). It's a long post but I enjoy sharing my experiences with everyone. :-)

Little Einstein dvd's are great. At least they play great classical music which all children should be hearing as they grow up. Mozart, Beethoven etc. In the series, they have additional language, music, Shakespeare, etc. Our daughter loves them and now loves all music created before the 20th century.

Sesame street has some good ones. Both my boys loved the Baby Einstein Videos and The Leap Frog Videos that teach letters and phonics. The wiggles aren't too bad either.

Riverdance. Really. My guys really like it. They are 3 and 1. If you are not familiar with it, it's the story of Ireland told in dance and music. You can find the dvd just about anywhere. Loads of Irish dancing, but also has a Spanish dancer, Russian Cossaks, and depending on the version, some jazz as well. You will most likely enjoy it as well, and it's so long that you can watch bits and pieces as you choose, or let the whole thing run as you do other things.

Another type you might try is the baby einstein stuff. They're good for introducing colors, numbers, shapes, etc, and have nice classical music as accompaniment.

For music-based stuff, I'd recommend:

Disney's Fantasia and Fantasia II - a classic!
The Wiggles
Disney Sing-Along Songs (there are at least 10 of them!0
Sesame Street classics - the 25th anniversary special, as well as the shorter ones like
Elmo's World shows
They Might Be Giants ABCs and 123s (two different shows)
Leapfrog's Letter Factory, Math Factory, etc.

There are plenty of other good programs out there for kids, especially on PBS, Noggin, PBS-Kids Sprout, and Disney, but I put the more musical stuff in my recommendations.

By this age, I'd think your child would be past the Baby Einstein ones and moving on to shows with more plot/theme to them.

I also recommend borrowing stuff from the library (if available) and pre-screening (you're the only one who knows the kind of stuff that might set your little one off. = )
Good luck!

Have you tried Elmo's World?My daughter loved that one and still likes it now at 2 yrs old.Also Blues Clues,or Yo Gabba Gabba.There is singing and dancing and interactive stuff on those ones.My daughter also loves Dora and Go Deigo Go.She knows more spanish then I do.And now answers them when they ask her a question on TV.Also Veggie Tales has really cute songs and veggie people!hope this helps.
R. F.

My son always loved the Baby Einstiein series. He also learned quite a bit of sign language by watching them. He is now two and prefers most anything on PBS especially Curious George. He is nuts for it. He also loves Super Why and has learned to identify most of the letters in the alphabet by watching that or Sesame Street.

My son loves The Wiggles, Dora and Diego, The Backyardigans, The Baby Einsteins and the Little Einsteins videos.

While I personally got to the point where they drove me nuts (it did take several months), both of my kids loved the Baby Songs videos. They are all music (no narrative at all) and the videos that go with the songs are of little kids. They loved watching the babies and singing the songs.

The Backyardigans is pERFECT! Bright colors, ALL singing and dancing and each episode is a different kind of music, from Jazz, swing time, reggae, all sorts of things. And sweet stories when she gets ready for them.

I'm not sure who Laurie Berkner is but both my children loved the Baby Einstein videos. They have a great selection and they are great at stimulating your toddler. My almost 3 year old still loves watching them occasionally.