Caroline in the City: Tot-a-doodle-do

It’s easy to pop in a DVD when you need to get dinner made or fold another load of clothes without “help” from your toddler. And if you’re like me, you’ve noticed it’s rare that you will find a DVD that doesn’t just require your child to sit on the couch.

Tot-a-doodle-do has created entire kits that include education DVDs and a fun hands-on activity for your kids. We got the Animal set which included the 30 minute DVD and a craft kit with everything we needed to make animal masks.

The DVD walks your child through the mask making step-by-step. It also includes other sections like Hop-n-Bop that encourage movement and hand-eye coordination. SuperSnack shows your child how to make a fun, creative snack that makes healthy eating fun.

I found the DVD to be a little dry and forced but the craft portion of the set is fantastic. They give you everything you need right down to the scissors and a bottle of glue. My two-year-old made the sheep mask while my four-year-old made the rabbit. The kit is for ages 3-7 and I would recommend it for the older end of that range. My husband and I had to pretty much do everything for my kids. They certainly enjoyed the project, but it wasn’t as hands on for them as it would’ve been for an older child.

The masks are a huge hit and we were woken up this morning to a rabbit and sheep parading around our bedroom. It’s given our daughters’ imagination a spark of creativity that has encouraged other conversations like why do sheep have wool, and what else do rabbits eat besides carrots.

The craft and DVD kits would be a perfect birthday gift and certainly offer an escape from the same old, same old things that keep piling up in toy boxes everywhere.

www.totadoodledo.com