Grade Schoolers: Woodpecker Drills Healthy Habits

Bananas are Good, But Stories Could Use More Meat

“The book/CD is almost like a kid-friendly cookbook!” — Gail Richardson, mother of two

TDmonthly Magazine’s Grade School Roundtable learned about healthy snacks thanks to H & T Imaginations Unlimited’s Professor Woodpecker DVD Vol. 1 and “Banana Sandwiches” book/story compact disc set. The parents were glad to see a void filled (teaching nutrition to children in a fun way), but did they go bananas over the products?

Professor Woodpecker® Educational DVD: Health and Nutrition - Volume 1 by H & T IMAGINATIONS UNLIMITED INC.
Gender: Boys and Girls
Category: Videos & DVDs
MSRP: $12.95

TDmonthly rating:

“Banana Sandwiches” by H & T IMAGINATIONS UNLIMITED INC.
Category: Educational
MSRP: $10.00

TDmonthly rating:

What It Is: On the three-episode DVD, Professor Woodpecker introduces children to healthy snack habits in segments featuring live actors as well as computer-generated images. “Banana Sandwiches” is a book with an accompanying read-along CD with a song. Professor Woodpecker discusses basic nutritional guidelines as he presents a simple recipe children can prepare themselves.

What the Moms Thought: Flamenco liked the book and read-along CD best. Kirby considered the book illustrations “dated,” although she enjoyed the quality of the DVD. She liked that “Banana Sandwiches” included a lesson followed by a project (making a sandwich), but commented that the DVD did not have a solid storyline and thus “did not hold my daughters’ interest.”

Wilson and Richardson liked that the CD could be stored in a back pocket of the book, and Wilson also appreciated the book’s “wipe-off quality.” Richardson especially liked “the emphasis on healthy habits.”

“Nuts and fruits unadorned are much healthier eating choices than [the recommended] banana and butter sandwiches,” pointed out Ledford, who suggested including information on what real birds eat. Tong found the nutritional lessons too “basic” and the DVD storyline “unclear.”

What the Kids Thought: “Ethan (9) enjoyed learning a new recipe,” Dawson reported. “It was fun to read along,” one of the Flamenco boys said. They liked the easy-to-read story; Flamenco reported that Brandon (5) was most interested in the DVD, but her older boys (7, 9 and 11) were not at all. Dawson’s children thought both items were targeted to preschool children; Joe (8) and Ledford agreed, since Griff (2) most liked the DVD at the Ledford home.

Emma (5) enjoyed making the sandwich. “We have made many a banana sandwich together since,” Kirby said.

Tong’s children liked the Professor Woodpecker character, and “LOVED the song,” she reported. Wilson’s children preferred the human portions of the DVD over the animated characters, which they said were “grotesque.” Sara (7) felt she already knew the information contained in these items.

What the Kids Learned from this Toy: Dawson’s children learned that bananas are a good source of potassium, and looked up more information on the element. Flamenco’s children learned about healthy snacks. “Healthy messages were reinforced,” according to Richardson, who also said, “The book/CD is almost like a kid-friendly cookbook!”

How to Improve It: “Correct the typo on the book cover,” stressed Dawson, whose son Ethan (9) noticed it immediately. She pointed out that butter is more commonly placed in the fats/oils nutritional category, rather than dairy; and as such, should be limited in a diet (she would like to see that note added to both book and DVD). Tong noted that there are better ways than butter to acquire fats (such as avocado).

Flamenco suggested that seeing Professor Woodpecker open and close his beak while speaking in the DVD would “make it more real to children.” Richardson would like to see the books as a set, since “Banana Sandwiches” references other titles. She also suggested using a boy to read the boy’s part in the CD.

Dawson and Ledford want more simple recipes included, and Ledford would appreciate more substantial nutrition information (such as what potassium is and what it is needed for in the human body), as would Tong.

“Do away with the computerized children,” Ledford recommended. Wilson and Tong agreed. Wilson also suggested rewriting the DVD script and using a better binding for the book. Several parents thought both items were overpriced.

Would You Want Another Toy Like This? “The market could use more nutrition education for children,” said Wilson, although she would like to see improvements in these two items. She added that she and her children did visit the website and enjoyed it much more than the products reviewed.

Roundtable participants are former corporate accountant Robbin Dawson with Ethan (9) and Sara (6); substitute teacher Veronica Flamenco with Matthew (11), Jonathan (8), Emilio (7) and Brandon (5); sales executive Stephanie Kirby with Sarah (6) and Emma (5); Susan Ledford, editor of the "Homeschool Resources Directory for SC,” with Victoria (13), Joe (8) and Griffin (2); World Bank policy advisor Gail Richardson with Alexander (8) and Jessica (6); stay-at-home mother Mildred Tong with Alyssa (9), Ethan (7), Lexi (4) and Erik (18 months); and Teresa Wilson, editor of “HOMES Newsletter,” with Timothy (14), Andrew (11), Elise (9) and Steven (7).