Search - Sesame Street: Kids' Guide to Life - Learning to Share on DVD

Dull, long-winded, and not the right message

Ginger Meggs | Australia | 06/24/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I have many Sesame St videos from the great (123 Count With Me, Bert and Ernie's Word Play) to the not so great (Get Up and Dance), but I absolutely HATE this one!Firstly the "sharing" message is delivered in a heavy way with very few songs to liven it up. Then the newsreader/interviewer format used doesn't work at all - it is just incredibly boring. Even the introduction of familiar characters like Jack and Jill and the Three Little Pigs cannot save this dud.I think it may even teach children to be more selfish and "MINE" oriented than they were before they watched it. Elmo constantly talks about Elmo's train, and it's clear that he absolutely hates to share. At the end he only agrees to share due to purely selfish reasons (otherwise Zoe won't play with him anymore), and he tries to share as little as possible (as little as Zoe will let him get away with).This DVD portrays sharing as a strict case of quid pro quo - I'll give you a cookie, but ONLY IF you give me half your glass of milk. Never mind that I have lots of cookies (more than I can eat). I think sharing should be portrayed as motivated by friendship, affection and caring, not only selfish "what's in it for me?" thinking."

Love this video BUT........

Jennifer Shiotani | Reseda, CA United States | 05/13/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"My 22 month old loves this video! She loves Elmo & Katie Couric, and she loves dancing to "So Much Better". She quickly learned "Jack & Jill" and about "The Three Little Pigs". The only bad thing about the video is that it taught her to say "No" even more; she even says "Elmo says no!". And the video taught her the word "MINE". When Zoe asks Elmo if he would share his train with her, Elmo says "No! Elmo says no! This train is mine, mine. MINE!" So when we watch this video, I mute this section."

Not worth a penny.

E. Silveira | Hilmar, Ca | 11/23/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Before watching this video, my son (20 months old) would not share with his sister or cousins. After watching this video, I have more problems. Now my son grabs everything and says MINE!!!! He never said this before watching this video. He does not understand that this is the behavior you do not want to do. He says MINE regarding anything and everything he touches."

OK overall; high points for educational value.

Michele S. Hays | Evanston, IL United States | 09/16/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"My 3-year-old finds it impossible to share trains, which must be a common problem, as the video opens to Elmo and "Elmo's Train." Although not as good as "Big Bird Gets Lost," I think this video has value in a preschooler's collection. The message is clear: it's boring to play by yourself, but nobody wants to play with someone who doesn't treat them with respect. Sharing strategies like playing different parts of a game, taking equal turns, putting different games or toys together, and splitting things into parts are outlined by Elmo, Zoe, Big Bird and the Grouches in the main plot.Katie Couric (who is not an actress - bear with her) cuts in occasionally as a newscaster for "Cooperation Today" solving conundrums like how Jack & Jill can get up the hill, and how the 3 little pigs can keep themselves safe by helping them work together. A few vintage clips "What is Friend?" with Cookie Monster, and "Two Heads are Better than One" are included. Unfortunately, the rest of the music on this tape is not up to Sesame Street standards. Joe Raposo's "Share" by Elmo, Zoe, and Big Bird isn't too bad - but the Elmo's Train song is annoying, and the Cooperation Song is unpleasantly saccharin.That being said, my 3 year old preschooler was riveted to his seat, and cried for me to rewind it when it was over. He just started school, and is struggling with this issue - the video seemed to help him collect his thoughts. Again, as in "Big Bird Gets Lost," we had a great discussion afterwards. I'd definitely recommend this to parents whose kids are having a tough time learning to play."