For trips (we have a DVD player in our minivan), most of the above have DVDs, but he also likes Disney classics (Lady and The Tramp, mary poppins, Fox and Hound…). I think the kid has a bigger DVD collection than I do.

Incidentally, go on eBay for Thomas trains/accessories. My kids have tons of them (though with a new third boy, we won’t be giving ours up any time soon)

http://www.nickjr.com/shows/blue/index.jhtml

Besides Sesame Street, she also watches “Wonder Pets”. “Wonder Pets” is about a hampster, turtle and duckling that save baby animals. Theme of every episode is teamwork. There are two “episodes” per half-hour, in each they save an animal. Usualy what happens is there is some sort of issue with them leaving to save the animal (something’s stuck, their way is blocked, a wheel needs to be oiled, etc) and then it so happens that the animal is in trouble in a similar way (elephant’s trunk is stuck in the mud, the puppy needs to go outside to tinkle, a dinosaur needs slime to slip between two rocks, etc). The pets draw on their earlier experience with solving the problem to solve the new one. Since this is a fairly new series, I’m not sure Nick has it out on DVD yet, but while in the states, you could record a bunch.

You’re welcome, and yes, many of the Thomas videos have the Brit accent. Some of the older ones have Ringo Starr as the narrator! On the flip side, some of the older ones had George Carlin narrating. Very odd, but he was actually quite good. Some of the new ones have Alec Baldwin, who also does a fine job. Whoever does the narrating does ALL the voices, so if you get one with an American narrator, it will be fine (most of the new ones have American narrators here in the states). A warning, though, I haven’t met a boy who after he started watching Thomas, didn’t get addicted to it!!!

They also sell the little Brio style wooden train toys, which can become quite an expensive collection, at about $10 a pop. You can often find a “special DVD or video” at Target that comes with one of them for free, and their DVD and video prices are usually the lowest.

I’ve seen some of the Thomas videos running in the store, but I worry about exposing him to that strange English (that is, British English). I’d hate that he might start talking like that. But, were we to watch it, we’d have a video that matched his Thomas underwear, which has merit.

By the way, on the Japanese side (in case you’re reading, John), I highly recommend a subscription to the Shimajiro magazine. The magazine is filled with age-appropriate fun things (that maps to and changes with his age), and comes with a 20-minute DVD that’s equally good. Each month…..

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog (it’s the only one I read). I also have a three and a half year old boy. He LOVES the “Thomas the Tank Engine” series. It’s all about various talking trains, and most of them have a decent moral to them, and what little boy doesn’t love trains? I think Thomas is big in Japan, as well. I understand there is some sort of “Thomas Land” amusement park there.

He also loves the “Little Einsteins”, which is a newer Disney Channel show, that should be out on video by now. Each episode focuses on a classic musical composer, while the kid characters solve various puzzles, and fly around in a rocket ship. My son also loves Dora the Explorer, which this is similar to. Side note, one of girls in the show is of asian descent.

Other series he enjoys is “Bear in the Big Blue House”, and “Caillou”, a PBS show from Canada about a four year old boy and his family.

As for movies, he loves “Finding Nemo” and the first “Toy Story”, both Pixar films. The movie “Cars” is out on the big screen right now, and might be a fun thing to do. It’s also a Pixar film. My only caveat would be that it’s a bit long for a kids movie at just under two hours. What’s nice about the Pixar films is that adults can usually enjoy them, as well. A small warning about “Finding Nemo”. The beginning has the usual Disneyesque parental snuff scene, though a little one doesn’t really doesn’t understand what happened (the mommy gets eaten by a barracuda, though this is implied, not shown). The rest of the film is one of the few great daddy and son stories.

If I can think of more, I’ll add them. Have a great trip!

Marius

so long, greetings from austria!
Nitschi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_and_Jerry_%28MGM%29

hmm, on second thoughts, there isnt much spoken English ….