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Phonics 4 Babies: Baby's First Words

What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Nancy Davis Kho

BABY'S FIRST WORDS is the first of what is billed as a series of videos from Phonics 4 Babies, designed to "unleash the genius in your child." The two episodes included here are narrated by Mallory Lewis, daughter of Shari Lewis, of Lambchop fame, and herself an Emmy Award-winner for writing in a children's series. Lewis leads puppet Giggles and the audience in simple, repetitive songs and the "D-D- Dog!" exercises that reinforce phonics.

Is It Any Good?

2

Lewis' positive approach to both discipline and praise is exemplary for the parents of young children. She cheerfully but firmly corrects Giggles when she forgets to use her words to ask for what she wants, or behaves rudely (as when she says, "You are not rude, but your behavior is. You are sweet and kind").

The producers take the task of teaching phonics seriously, including a tongue-in-cheek warning that exposure to the DVD may cause children to grow up to be President and find a cure for the common cold. A few live-action shots of toddlers following Lewis' commands to "close the toy box" and "shut the door" energize the rudimentary computer-generated animation that backs Lewis and her puppets, the Tummy Tots.

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