The last thing I needed was more children’s videos. As it is, I am deluged with PBS’ Sprout on a constant basis. I must admit, though, some cartoons I like – even though I am a full grown adult – because sometimes they teach and entertain.

Leap Frog has come out with a new DVD – “Let’s Go to School” which illustrates and allays the anxiety that a lot of children feel toward their first day of school. With a calmer child that understands a little better, it seems to lessen the parent’s anxiety as well. Although it should be noted that this DVD will not stop a parent from getting misty-eyed the first time they send their wee one off to their very first day of school – there isn’t anything on Earth that could do that!

Pros:

• Close-captioned, unlike most other children’s DVDs
• Takes the viewer on a tour through the classroom, making the environment friendly and familiar
• Entertaining and lively
• Interactive alphabet book
• Sing along songs

Cons:

• 35 minutes
• Single “episode”

The best part of the DVD for me was the classroom tour – I’ve never seen another program really show a child what a classroom is all about. While the other material is not revolutionary, it is still a break from the typical shows seen on television and holds the child’s attention.

Just in time to help you maximize the few minutes left before Christmas, here are the top 16 holiday movies captured in their most famous scenes.

This is just enough of a dose of some of them to make you fondly remember your first viewing and save you from a trip to the video store. Many of them, in my opinion, are a bit too cloying for re-viewing again now. And for cynics, read today’s excellent article in the New York Times on the sad dismal life of George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life. The writer, Wendell Jamieson, opines that the world would have actually been a better more prosperous place without George, citing his felony theft, upstate New York economic trends, and the dismal conformist life that George in which George is forced to find meaning. If you’re mumbling “bah” around this time of year, this is a fun article to read.

As I mentioned in a previous post, our family enjoyed the short 22 minutes Shrek the Halls for its brevity, slapstick and adult humor, and insight on the real meaning of Christmas (as Donkey says, “It’s not Christmas until somebody cries.”).

But back to the video. You may want to send this one from Grandparents.com on to friends and family.

Merry Merry.

This is amusing, but also makes me think of other funny videos we’ve laughed at with our kids. I’ll post more.

This video is meant to be viral - watch until the end for the serious message about the disappearance of bees. Scientists now think they have figured out the mystery, but do not know how to solve it.

The link at the end takes you to a Haagen Daz site, so important message on bees with a commercial sting if you act.

A tip of the hat to MEGO.com for finding this one.