Entertainment Weekly
FRIDAY, June 2, 2006

DVD Review


Reviewed by Eileen Clarke
 

Walk into any kids' store and you'll see entire sections devoted to making your baby a genius. And not just smart. The push is on to make them brainiacs: prodigious toddlers who can conjugate verbs in three languages while listening to Dvor?k, or master hard-to-measure spatial reasoning skills, all before they've tackled drooling. So it's really refreshing to encounter something that gets tangible results: Meet the Letters combines a basic need (learning the alphabet) with a tried-and-true method (repetition), all while keeping Junior entertained.

The premise is simple: Each letter appears on the screen several times in upper-and lowercase, changing position and color as it is repeated again and again with varying intonations, making the viewer focus anew each time before...the a turns into an airplane, or k into a karate chopper, or m morphs into a mountain.

Letters is the first of a series (there's Meet the Numbers, Shapes, and soon Colors) created by Preschool Prep Co. founder Kathy Oxley, who believes it's the repetition, combined with fun characters, that helps kids — especially those who don't yet speak — make the connection between sight and sound. And for that effort, we give it an A.

(Click here to read our interview with Oxley.)
(Posted:06/02/06)

Post your response below.

Bonnie H.- Tue, Jun 27, 2006 at 3:45 PM EDT

Wayne, you can buy them at www.preschoolprepco.com.

WAYNE- Fri, Jun 23, 2006 at 4:30 PM EDT

WE WANT TO BUY YOUR DVD'S ON MEET THE LETTERS ETC. PLEASE CALL 818-360-0099. ALSO PLEASE LET US KNOW WHERE WE CAN PURCHASE THIS SERIES.

Kristi- Sun, Jun 11, 2006 at 6:34 PM EDT

Eileen - I bought this video the day that I read your review and have played it for my three year old who only knew 5 letters (those in her name). She has watched it no more than 10 times and now knows all of her letters. Her preschool teacher couldn?tbelieve it and has told me that she is going to start showing part of it to the class everyday. Thanks for bringing this amazing video to my attention.

Holly McClure- Tue, Jun 6, 2006 at 12:49 AM EDT

This product works. Much as I would like to say my daughter is gifted, the reality is we started watching "Meet the Letters" when my daughter was 19 months old, and she knew all of the letters (upper and lower case) by 20 months. At 23 months, she is "done" with the video but is still fascinated with letters - points them out on license plates, is obsessed with any video or book that has to do with the alphabet, and frequently brings to bed her "favorite" letter from her tub toys. ("Z" is popular withher this week.) She also has mastered 1-10 from her "Meet the Numbers" board book. Thank you Kathy!

Beth Davis- Sat, Jun 3, 2006 at 11:49 AM EDT

Thanks Eileen. I have been looking for something like thi for my four year old who is having trouble with the alphabet. We will give it a try.

mgv- Sat, Jun 3, 2006 at 2:47 AM EDT

Kathy Oxley's product is absolutely "tried and true". Her videos are my son's favorite videos to watch. My 3 year old knows his shapes and letters. Her product simply speaks for iteself. Thanks You, Kathy!

Susan Webber- Sat, Jun 3, 2006 at 1:49 AM EDT

I just previewed Meet the Letters at www.preschoolprepco.com. My 2 year old asked me to play the demo clip over and over while he repeated the letter. I can't wait to see how he responds to the rest of the video!

Lynn Etter- Fri, Jun 2, 2006 at 10:42 PM EDT

I knew YOU when you were just a little girl. I'm so happy for your accomplishments here. I look forward to seeing how they work with MY grandchildren.

Kate Sanders- Fri, Jun 2, 2006 at 3:36 PM EDT

I bought this video for my 18 month old twins and they learned their letters in two weeks. The whole series is amazing.

Erin L- Fri, Jun 2, 2006 at 3:25 PM EDT

It sounds great, and I love that you did your research! I'm convinced. I will be looking into getting one for my little girl!

Sara Cape- Fri, Jun 2, 2006 at 2:33 PM EDT

Congrats on the new product!

Sounds great!!

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject -- or we may delete your comment. Also, please enter no more than 10 lines. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us.

 Your name:

 Your Comment:

We require all participants in interactive areas to accept the terms of the Time Inc. subscriber agreement. Please read the agreement before making comments. When you click on the button above to submit your comments, you are indicating your acceptance of and are agreeing to adhere to the terms of the subscriber agreement.

o
o
o
  

 
 o
o
   Video Home   o
o
   Video Reviews   o
o
   DVD Reviews   o
o
   Top Rentals   o
o
   Remind Me: New Videos   o
o
   Web Guide   o
o
   PopWatch   o
o
   Magazine Archive   o
o
    
Special Coverage
 
   o
o
   Best DVDs   o

Get feeds of EW's latest articles
What is RSS?

 

Home | Top | Help | Site Map | About Us | Advertising | Magazine Customer Service | Subscribe | Contests | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Feeds

Copyright © 2006 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.