Right now I’m in the midst of the terrible twos. Or rather Jaxson is in the midst of them while I sit on the sidelines and chug lots of coffee. I totally understand where he’s coming from. He’s growing fast and has so many ideas, but isn’t sure how to express himself. His words, both Vietnamese and English, are limited and he doesn’t always know how to deal with his feelings.
I recently received a copy of Ruby’s Studio: The Feelings Show by The Mother Company. When I first heard it was a show teaching kids how to express their feelings, I was skeptical. It sounded cheesy and not at all exciting for a kid.
I was so wrong.
Though Ruby’s Studio is geared for preschoolers, I thought Jaxson would enjoy it. He frequently watches shows that his older sister watches. The first time Jaxson watched the DVD, he was mesmerized by Ruby, the show’s hostess.. I’m not sure if it was her gentle, happy voice or the catchy tunes, but he sat still for the entire show. I don’t think he’s sat that still for, um, ever. Since the first time, he’s requested to watch it over and over. “Ruby!” he says excitedly. Even Sophia, who is in kindergarten, has enjoyed Ruby’s Studio.
“Ruby’s Studio: The Feelings Show” – Sneak Peek Trailer from The Mother Company on Vimeo.
The show is full of vibrant colors, even the colors representing the different feelings. Ruby uses a feelings wheel with faces to discuss feelings like frustration, happy, scared or mad. Each feeling is then represented by a short clip featuring a puppet story, animated cartoon, or a song. After the segment, Ruby and the children in the show discuss each feeling.
I learned quite a bit myself about young kids’ feelings. The video offers two viewing options: regular and with a parent’s guide. The parent’s guide is sort of a pop up guide. During different sections of the DVD, tips unobtrusively pop up at the bottom of the screen with information or talking tips relating to the current segment.
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I definitely appreciated the tips. Ruby’s Show reminded me that little kids have big feelings. So when Jaxson is frustrated because he can’t have something, he’s totally consumed in frustration. That’s all he can focus on He hasn’t yet learned to channel his frustration or redirect his energy differently. It helps me understand what he’s going through, even though it drives me crazy some afternoons. I remind myself to relax and breathe.
Even though the terrible twos aren’t going away anytime soon, I’m glad that we have Ruby to help us through those maddening moments with Jaxson. Ruby’s Studio: The Feelings Show is a great DVD that parents of preschoolers (even 2 year olds) should have in their collection. It’s entertaining and educational for both children and parents.
Ruby’s Studio: The Feelings Show retails for $20.
I received a copy of the dvd for review. No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are my own. Photos courtesy of The Mother Co.