Little Playdates: Little Friends

This 30-minute series of activities exposes babies and toddlers to other young kids who are pleasantly busy on the screen with toys, games and pets while familiar songs—“Do Your Ears Hang Low,” “Ring Around the Rosie” and “Down By the Bay,” to name a few—play in the background. An optional “Layer of Learning” feature adds title cards and brief vocals to the segments. Other titles in the series include “Critter Friends,” in which kids interact with animals, and “Little Adventures,” with kids visiting among other sites, a museum, a floral garden and a fire truck. Though producers Trent and JoAnne Pettry don’t claim on the package or in their bonus segment statement that these videos can help treat autism—NoteAbilities does make that claim for their new Kibble’s Rockin’ Clubhouse series—the Playdates opening title cards detailing how to spot autism and an endorsement from the president of the National Autism Assn. indicates at least a tag-along relationship. Otherwise, the discs are easy-going, attention-grabbing babysitters for infants to 3-year-olds, demonstrating sharing, kindness, gentleness and friendship.

Shelf Talk: Widespread advertising isn’t likely, but with April as National Autism Awareness Month, the producers are looking to tout the titles on daytime talk and news shows. Push it to new and expecting moms. A three-disc box containing all the titles also is available for $29.98.