Suburban Obsessions #33 -- My Magical World

Step right up and getcher kiddie crack here, ladies and gentleman (only one guy reads this blog).

A few months ago, I promised my friend Jordan* that I'd take a peek at My Magical World and let him know what I and The Ambassador thought of it. Okay, it was actually many months ago, but a few minor things, like an aneurysm, a baby and a constant state of forgetfulness got in the way. Trust me when I say none of those hurdles is a reflection of how The Ambassador and I feel about Georgia and her friends in My Magical World.

Yes, it's a kiddie video. Yes, my kid watches TV. If yours does, too, then this is a good one.

Georgia and her friends, Abra, Louie, Chase, Hase and Sammy guide kids through a variety of everyday situations, imparting values like sharing and listening. Your kid isn't going to smell any of that do-gooder stuff though, because he or she is going to be so caught up in the singing and dancing. The storylines are easy to understand, and the characters are engaging, but it was the songs that really sucked The Ambassador into the show. He even wanted to watch the bonus segments that included just the singing. After a couple of viewings, I was shocked to hear him singing along and doing some of the dance moves. He requested the show for weeks, and more often than not, he followed along with the book that accompanies the video.

A couple nitty gritty facts you parents will love: My Magical World was the 2008 winner of the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, and it was approved by Kids First, which puts it in the same ranks of Baby Einstein and Leapfrog videos. If you can get past Georgia's wig, and the fact that her song about sharing is reminiscent of the Laverne & Shirley theme song, you'll probably dig the video, too. If I had one complaint to lodge, it's that they try to cover too much ground in a single episode. In addition to listening and sharing, they tack on a couple extra lessons at the end that don't get covered with enough depth to really have an impact. But I'd always rather expose my kids to more, rather than less, so as complaints go, it's a minor one.

The original agreement was that I'd review the DVD. But when I saw how much The Ambassador loved it, I called my BFF Jordan and asked him for another one that I could use in a giveaway. So this is your chance for some free kiddie crack! Leave a comment here, and on Friday evening, I'll draw a name at random and select a winner!


*Jordan and I have never met, I've never heard his voice, and he probably won't ever talk to me again via email, because I took FOREVER to get this review done. I hope he has kids and understands.