My youngest child is 2 and a half so potty training is well underway. I have used various potty training videos with my other kids but none of them has had nearly the impact on my entire family as this Elmo's Potty Time Video.

This DVD is presented in the same format as Sesame Street. There is the main story that involves Elmo, Baby Bear, Baby Bear's cousin Curly who is potty training and several other familiar Sesame Street characters including Grover, Prairie and real adults including Gordon and Gina.

The overall plot line is that Baby Bear's cousin Curly is learning to use the potty. All of the cast encourage Curly and, I hate to ruin the plot line but, Curly does succeed by the end of the show. The overall show is ridiculously exuberant. There is one musical number where real life kids talk and sing about various ways to refer to pee and poo (tinkle, dukey, doodoo were just a few). Kids are encouraged to keep trying and that accidents happen. They truly cover all aspects of potty training including learning to listen to your body's signals, how to wipe and that, of course, accidents happen. Seeing Elmo and Grover singing "Accidents Happen" is truly priceless. The video also realisticly covers the whole process including that kids usually wear diapers at night even after being dry all day and that sometimes you have to stop playing to take a bathroom break. Some of it unnecessarily silly and maybe even a little gross such as the "No More Dirty Diapers blues" song.

My two year old really likes this video. She requests it and identifies with it and seems engaged by it. She is just starting to use the potty now so she can relate to the Curly character the most. I don't know if it has necessarily motivated her to use the potty more but it at least provides some entertainment value for her.

Of course, my seven year old son finds this video absolutely hysterical. I guess this is to be expected since he finds any mention of underpants, toilets, pee or poop to be very, very funny. This video has it all rolled into one. The format of singing, cartoons, puppets and live action all around bodily functions provides endless laughter and sound bytes for my son. He always volunteers to watch the video with my two year old and the gaffaws and endless laughter make me happy that at least someone in the family in really enjoying this video.

Even my trying-to-be-mature ten year old daughter can't help laughing. Personally, I find the video a little surreal. Seeing Gordon, Gina and a bunch of puppets singing about pooping in a toilet just isn't something you come across every day.

I can recommend this video for entertainment value. The target audience - my two year old - likes to watch it. She requests it and watches it all the way through. I don't think it gets her to be better at potty training but it couldn't hurt.







HAVE A BABY IN THE HOUSE? HERE ARE SOME BABY PRODUCTS I HAVE REVIEWED:

STROLLERS: Maclauren Techno Stroller; Graco MetroLite LE Stroller; Cosco Eddie Bauer Lightweight Stroller

GEAR: Skip Hop Diaper Bag; Evenflo Snugli Baby Carrier; Infantino EuroRider Baby Carrier.

SLEEPING: Pali Sabrina Crib; Sozo USA bedding.

SOOTHING: MAM pacifiers; MAM pacifier keeper.

NURSING: Bravado Nursing Bra; Lansinoh lanolin; Lansinoh nursing pads.

FEEDING: Avent Feeding Bottles; Take & Toss Infant Spoons; Nuby Sipper Gripper Cup; Dora the Exporer Insulated Straw Cups; Playtex Sipster Spill-Proof Cup.

BATHING: The First Years Bath Tub/Bath Seat Combo; California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo & Bodywash.

BABY BOTTOMS: Burt’s Bees Diaper Ointment; Desitin Creamy; Balmex; California Baby Diaper Rash Cream; Weleda Diaper Care.

BABY SKIN: Mustela Hydra-Stick for lips and cheeks; Burt’s Bees Apricot Baby Oil.

TOYS: Tiny Love Symphony In Motion Mobile; Soft Teething Beads; Sassy Teething Wing Butterfly; Lamaze Clutch Cube;
Lamaze Freddie the Firefly.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS: Baby’s Here Birth Announcements.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: None of the Above
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up to Age 4