We are continuing our reviews on Social Skills DVDs (check out our previous review of Skill Builder Buddies) in partnership with the Parent Bloggers Network in recognition of April as Autism Awareness Month. Our oldest daughter lives with Sensory Integration Disorder and other related issues, so we have spent many years focusing on social skills awareness, and scripting how situations will play out. Leave a comment on the Parent Bloggers Network Blog for a chance to win both DVDs!
Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse vol. 1 Expressing Yourself is a DVD from NoteAbilities, which is aimed at children ages 2-7 with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and other associated issues. If you’ve struggled with helping your child understand how others are feeling, you might need more tools to help your child recognize emotions in others and cope with their own emotions. Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse is a great way to add tools to your toolbox and to your child’s toolbox in a fun way with catchy songs.
Hosts “Handy Sam” and “Miss Angela” (as well as Kibbles the dog) lead a group of four children through activities and songs. Each activity helps children with their emotions and building their skillset to cope with emotions and recognize emotions in others. Throughout Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse, Miss Angela and Handy Sam demonstrate, sing about, and talk to the children so they can learn how to cope with anger, frustration, and other emotions. We really liked the song refrains of “use your mouth to ask for things”, “take 3 deep breaths and count to 10″, “I’m OK when things don’t go my way”, and “I can accept no as an answer”!
In Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse, there is also a segment called “Kibbles World”, in which Kibbles the dog can talk, and helps the kids identify emotions, and work on their “use your words” skills. Kibbles also adds some activities that are interactive - Kibbles gives you a problem, and goes through the options, and the studio audience chips in with the answers. My girls were quick to chime in with the answers as well, and always love talking dogs. Using a style that is reminiscent of “Elmo’s World” and “Blue’s Room”, Kibble’s World engages the children and almost tricks them into participating.
I really liked the messages in In Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse, and thought that they were well-executed. There were examples of “good” and “bad” ways of dealing with anger, meeting people, and coping with strong emotions. Some DVDs only show the “good” way of dealing with a situation, which doesn’t feel realistic to me or my kids. The songs are very well integrated into the action, and the songs are fun and very, very catchy, yet not overly sweet. I was happy to find a fun, song-filled DVD that is aimed at helping children with life skills.
Regardless of how I feel about Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse, it was important what my daughters thought of the DVD, they won’t watch DVDs just because I like it. All three enjoyed the songs, and were up dancing for each one. They all agreed that this DVD gave them tools to help them through problems. While some of the tools mentioned in Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse were strategies I had already discussed with the girls, somehow it sticks better when it’s on a DVD with a great soundtrack! When Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse was over, the girls were upset, asking “is that all there is?” We quickly found the “Special Features” section, which includes a bonus Kibbles World episode, and a karaoke option for the songs inside Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse. They were also thrilled that there is a sing-a-long CD we can play in the car, too. As the parent who has to listen to most of the songs, I can safely say that these songs are much better than most childen’s music, and the fact that they have a message makes them even better - catchy and fun without being insipid.
While it’s too early to say if the strategies presented in Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse will make lasting changes, it did help recently when my oldest daughter got frustrated at the beach. We were able to work through her anger, and get to the root of the trouble rather than just patching up the surface issue. I’m crossing my fingers that this DVD will help reinforce the messages I’ve been teaching, and it will be in our “to watch” stack for the foreseeable future! If you are looking for a Social Skills DVD, Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse is the one to get!
If you want to check out Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse vol. 1 Expressing Yourself
for yourself, visit the Kibble’s Rockin’ Clubhouse website to check out a video. Check their website again soon, NoteAbilities will have kid-focused printouts and activities on their website, plus further information for parents.
We give Kibbles Rockin’ Clubhouse 5 spotlights out of 5, with a special extra bonus points for engaging kids in our house from 4-10, and conveying messages without turning preachy and insipid!
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