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We love Here Come The 123s. I can't promise you that your toddler will learn to count, add or multiply, but I can promise you that you'll wake up in the morning singing "Triops has three eyes..." This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Quality music = happy parents! This album is something we don't mind hearing for the millionth time in the car.
| Enjoyable songs, but slightly disappointing educationally after "Here Come the ABCs" |  |
We got this for our two boys (ages 6 & 2) after having owned and loved "Here Come the ABCs" for several years. "ABCs" got 5 stars from me, because it was an excellent tool for teaching the ABCs to both of our boys. We bought "Here come the 123s" with our 2-yr old in mind, thinking that just as "ABCs" had done in teaching him his alphabet, it would help in teaching him how to count. I was disappointed to find that there are no segments that simply contain counting (like from 1 to 10 or from 1 to 20). Each segment consists of a song about each number. The first segment is a song about the number one, second segment is a song about the number two, etc.
While I have no complaints at all about them doing it this way, and the songs are all really fun and enjoyable (some are downright groovy!), I kept waiting for a cool segment or two where they simply counted in succession, up to ten or twenty. But there isn't one. It's all just songs about individual numbers up to ten, and then a few songs about more advanced things like adding, shapes, or even numbers (all excellent, I might add).
I think they really missed a great teaching opportunity by not having a simple counting-in-succession song or segment. With the "ABCs", they had at least 3 short segments that simply went through the alphabet in succession. These segments were a huge tool I used in teaching both my boys their alphabet, and not only that, but they LOVED reciting along to them each time they watched the DVD. It was a real motivator for them to know their ABCs in order! My 2-yr old (almost 3) can't count to ten in succession, and I just KNEW this DVD would be a great help, thinking it would have similar successive counting segments. But, it doesn't have them.
I'm disappointed in that, but other than that complaint, I have to say it's another excellent & educational video from TMBG. Both my boys absolutely love it, and in less than a week now, they know every song. It's mesmerizing to them. The more advanced segments on even numbers, shapes, adding, etc, are particularly interesting to my 6-yr old, because he learned all those things last year in his math studies. I wish I would've had the DVD back then to help supplement his studies while we were covering each of those topics!
Overall, they love it, and my 2-yr old doesn't have a clue he's missing out on anything, so I give it 4 stars. I just wish it contained at least one successive counting segment; if it had, I'd gladly give it 5 stars!
| Catchy, fun and educational | |
My husband and I have been fans of They Might Be Giants for years and there isn't anyone who is better suited to write songs for kids! The songs are fun while also teaching a lot. I find myself singing them over and over, and usually not even minding! My 4-year-old wants to watch the DVD and listen to the CD all the time. He'll take a few days or a week off, then ask for it again, on repeat. A sure sign of love.
| Great for car DVD player | |
The whole family enjoys music and sings along. My daughter loves the songs and video and I get to listen too!
| Fantastic | |
A fantastic CD - we really like it and listen to it a lot. The songs are catchy. My children are 5 and 6 years old.
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