Scooter & Me

PreS-Gr 2—Through story-based exercises, the instructor takes viewers through a warm-up, a story with movement segment, a relaxation exercise, and a skill review wrap-up on each of these DVDs. Viewers follow along with the fun yoga-like moves that perfectly complement the adventure story being told. The instructor and a small group of children giggle and smile their way through the exercises. Children pretend to be different animals and perform various movements as they listen to the tales of a boy and his scooter and the adventures they have together. Designed to encourage physical, cognitive, and emotional development, the program should help children learn how to channel their emotions through flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination exercises. In "Tortoise, Hare, and Dragon," the concept of perseverance introduces "elephant wisdom," a skill that helps the children focus on their auditory system, as well as "cat wisdom," which concentrates on stress relief. "Coral Reef" deals with acceptance while encouraging youngsters to focus on their breathing and cross-motor coordination. "A Beautiful Dream" highlights relationships while revisiting all the skills from previous stories. The excellent guide provides background information on the series, detailed descriptions of each adventure skill, and tips for incorporating them into children's lifestyles. An engaging series for use at home and at school.—Cathie Bashaw Morton, Millbrook Central School District, NY