I’ve partnered with KidzVuz to bring you this tale of childhood, wishing, and how an Amazon Original Series available for Prime members, is helping Grady learn to try, try again. Enjoy!
I’ve never been the type of parent who wished that her kids would just stay the age they are. I really look forward to the day my children and I are friends and can go shopping together and laugh over dinner at a nice restaurant. I eventually want grandkids I can hang out with and then send back to their parents when I’m ready for some Summer-time – just not too soon, please. I look forward to the day Kyle is the only person I have to pick up after, and I want to eventually travel the world without having to pay a babysitter. I want to be able to close the blinds and devour everything on Amazon Prime Instant Video while sipping coffee too hot for human consumption.
But recently, this crazy thing happened. My “baby” started high school. It was then that I realized he has 4 years left of childhood. I have 4 years to groom into a man who is ready to take on college and then the world. It’s really not that much time, you guys. My actual baby is 4 and a half now and it seems like just yesterday he was being thrust, unbreathing, into this world. Madilyn is such a Miss Sassypants – 5 going on 16 in one month – and sometimes I wonder if she’s ever going to enjoy childhood, or just skip it by as she laments her inability to wear high heels and dangly earrings.
I am of the firm belief that kids are who they are and who they are going to be as they are knit together in the womb, and that it is our job as parents to sort of trim the edges and put the finishing touches on them so they become productive adults. When one of your kids wants to grow up before she learns to walk, sometimes those finishing touches can be hard to discern. She already seems finished, what’s there to work on? And how do I work on it when she thinks she knows better than me at the age of 5?
On the other end of the spectrum lie both of my boys. Neither of them wants to grow up, Styles has even uttered those exact words. I guess I should be thankful my high schooler doesn’t want to do the pseudo-grown-up things his peers are doing, but on the other hand, I am concerned he’ll be a basement dweller, and, well, we don’t have basements in Florida. Grady is still very much a mama’s boy and wants me to do everything for him. He also doesn’t have much patience with himself when he doesn’t understand something, which often results in hair-raising temper tantrums and perhaps a little standard issue preschool violence. You know, punching the air and flinging oneself onto the ground before tearing a rotator cuff or getting a self-induced concussion.
That’s where programs like “Wishenpoof”, an Amazon Original Series from the creators of “Blue’s Clues” and “Super Why” comes into play. Wishenpoof is available for Prime members as of August 14th, but we had the great pleasure of viewing the whole series a bit early. It follows a little girl named Bianca, who looks oddly like Madilyn in her tutu and Converse look-alikes, as she uses her “wish power” to transport herself wherever she wants to, and to solve real-life childhood problems.
Grady loves when Bianca accidentally turns into a monkey when she’s trying to become something else. I’ve been able to use that situation to talk to Grady about not giving up when you don’t get something quite right the first time. He generally Hulks out and starts swinging when he doesn’t do something right, but I’ve been able to make the kooky monkey sound – “OOH OOH AAH AAH!” – which he automatically recognizes as a need to calm the heck down and try again. I’m all for educational shows, but in childhood, there is nothing more valuable than learning appropriate social skills, and there “Wishenpoof” excels.
I was almost afraid Madilyn would find “Wishenpoof” too childish, but I think I sometimes overestimate how she views herself. She is, after all, still just a little girl, albeit one who pretends she wants to be a teenager. My favorite lesson for Madilyn was an episode where Bianca stood up for her friend when a fellow classmate named Violet made her friend very sad. I think it is difficult for very independent children, and adults for that matter, to remember that people exist and have feelings outside of themselves. Viewing that episode was a perfect segue into talking about how important it is to be kind to others and make sure you’re getting your point across without seeming mean. Kindness is something I often talk about with Madilyn and that episode lined up perfectly with what I’m trying to teach her.
I am really looking forward to Amazon releasing “Wishenpoof” to all Prime members on August 14th so I can share it with all of my friends who are parents. Make sure you add it to your Watchlist so that it’s always on cue when you need it. We found it the perfect show to watch just before bedtime with a light snack for the kids to wind down to. My hope is that the social lessons are sinking in as they slumber. And mamas, let Jason Priestley of Beverly Hills 90210 fame talk you into dreamy dreamland because his lends his voice as Bianca’s dad. You can thank me later.
Tonya says
My kids are grown now but my husband and I use Amazon to find movies to watch. Amazon Prime is so convenient for live streaming.
Alicia says
This looks like a cute TV show for kids. I have Prime, but don’t have a way to watch shows on the tv as I don’t have a Roku or anything.
Andrea @ Honestly Andrea says
I wish I had Amazon Prime even though my kids are a bit too old for this. There are so many good things about Prime that I miss out on by not having it.
Crystal says
There’s some really great programming available for kids on Amazon. I will check this out in a few days when it’s available.
Shell Feis says
My son turned 6 yesterday and while he’s still young, it’s already giving me flashforwards of him growing up and moving out and I WILL NEVER BE READY. Things like birthdays and starting school really do make you pause and take a moment to reflect on what your kids need from you. I think my son would really benefit from this show- I’m going to add it to our list right now! Thank you!