As the months pass, I find it is harder and harder to find my Bear in the Big Blue House Videos anywhere. So when I came across several at tha Target Discount Store, I snatched a couple of for my kids and excitedly went home with them. They had a special for them, costing only $6.97 each, where as Wal-Mart was charging $9.99 and they only had two of the series!

One of the videos I chose was Bear in the Big Blue House - Safe and Sound... because it deals with how children do not have to be afraid of the dark and other things like thunder storms and such. Even as we speak, I was awaken by my 7 year old because we are in a pretty good thunderstorm right now and she refuses to sleep unless I am up- lucky me! She will need to watch this video again...

First, let me explain what the cover looks like when you are looking for it in the Store. The front has a purple background, and says Jim Henson Home Entertainment, Bear in the Big Blue House" with Bear hugging Ojo, Pip and Pop, and Treelo. Along the bottom is their good friend, Shadow, a little girl who pops in now and then and even has her own theme song which Bear sings. She is accompanied by the words "Safe and Sound." On the back lists the two episodes on the video, "Afraid Not," and "Nothing to Fear." The video is 50 minutes long, and I guarantee you will fly by, your child will never know how much time has passed because Bear is so entertaining!

The video begins with what else, but previews! You can see a movie preview for the "Trumpet and the Swan," a promo for the "Dragontale" Video Set, a preview of "Thomas and the Magic Railroad," and last but not least, a preview of all the other Bear in the Big Blue House videos.

So, let's open the story up by singing "Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Big Blue House. Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Big Blue House. Door is open, so come on in, now you're here, so let's..........begin!"

Nothing to Fear is the first episode, which opens with Bear singing "What's in the Mail Today" while he gets down and dances with the package he just found. Bear then smells the camera, a trademark of Bear to smell "you" every morning- my 15 month old LOVES when he does this!

Bear sees that his package has brought him a skunk clock, and realizes it is a mistake. Being the uplifting and positive role model he is, he tries to work with it and finds a place to put it and use it anyways. Bear sees Ojo and Treelo playing in the back yard swinging, and Ojo refuses to swing because she is a little afraid. Bear explains to Ojo that just because she is afraid now, doesn't mean she will always be afraid of it. A beautiful statement for children to grasp and understand! Ojo decides to swing just a little to try it out, Bear and Treelo encouraging her the entire time. Ojo LOVES swinging and has overcome her fear!

Bear explores the word AFRAID and goes on to say that you should never be afraid to talk about what your fears are. Bear then sings "Everybody's Afraid of Something" which is a great, blues type song that shows Bear and what HE is afraid of and how he handles it. My daughters love to watch Bear sing and dance, the puppetry involved with this show is so amazing!

There is a small video clip of children talking about what THEY are afraid of and who they talked to about it, so that your child can even relate to the topic more by hearing other kids speak about it.

Tutter, the hyper and hilarious little blue mouse, is awaken by the loud new skunk clock, and tries to reason with it. Bear calms Tutter down from his panic attack, and explains the skunk is a clock, and not a real animal.

Treelo and Ojo come in to let Bear know they are only swinging a little at a time so that they do not try to much and over do it for Ojo. Pip and Pop enter the picture, this purple Otter team are a bunch of hilarious misfits that are playing a "Dare D Doubledare" game. I think these two are some of the funniest muppets yet! Pop realizes he is to scared to climb the tree on one of the dares, and Bear says explains there is always a reason why we do not feel like doing something. Another excellent thing for children to hear! Pip and Pop shake it down with Bear for a fun dance number, when Bear walks into see Tutter has taken apart the Skunk clock to get a better look, not knowing he pretty much destroyed it. Bear gives up on repairing it, and checks out his attic to visit Luna, the moon that hangs outside his home. They also finish each episode with the "Good-bye" song.

Next there is the episode called "Afraid Not" which begins with Bear singing the "Good Morning Sun" song- a catchy tune all small children can sing along to. The Sun bewares Bear of a big thunderstorm coming, and where he goes when it storms. Bear sniffs up the t.v. again, we smell like yummy breakfast today!

Bear decides to prepare for the Thunderstorm by looking for flashlights, and educates children by explaining the louder it gets, the closer the storm is. Treelo and Ojo freak out at the noise, and Bear explains that they can't get hurt when indoors, and that it was smart for them to come inside.
Bear explains how many things that seem scary, but cannot harm us. Bear best explains things in song, such as "Nothing To Be Afraid Of."

Tutter overcomes his fear of the dark, AFTER the power comes back on, while Pip and Pop play upstairs in their room. They play with bed sheets, pretending to be monsters, and decide to scare Tutter. The two-headed purple flower monster freaks out Tutter, making him MORE afraid than ever.

Bear uncovers the truth, exposing Pip and Pop as the infamous monster and Tutter tells them how much they scared him. Bear explains what might be funny to them, may be scary to someone else. Another great lesson for children to learn! Pip and Pop apologize for their actions, and Tutter says he is o.k. now.

The power goes out again, and they decide to make a tent in the living room to pretend they are outside. The entire gang sings "Oh Where, Oh Where, Oh Where is Shadow?" She stops by to tell a story about the Miss Muffet Nursery Rhyme.

The gang listens to more stories, while Bear goes into his Attic to visit Luna and sing the end song "Good-bye."

Like I said above, you can find the Bear in the Big Blue House videos at Target, Wal-Mart, Media Play, and for maybe cheaper you can check them out on Ebay.com!

The Bear in the Big Blue House - Safe and Sound Video is an excellent tool that educates your child about fear and how to deal with it all on different levels. I highly recommend it, and for less than $7.00, how can you go wrong? Enjoy it today!



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up to Age 4