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Our Bob Ross Painting Tutorial Starter Kit will hopefully inspire you to take a break and create art as a family.
Whether your family is full of creative types or none of you have ever picked up a paintbrush, Bob Ross’ painting method is designed for anyone and everyone. With his memorable perm, an adorable pocket squirrel, and the infamous PBS program The Joy of Painting, Bob Ross will always be remembered as the painter of Happy Little Trees (and spectacular scenic landscape paintings). But how did he become such a well-known painter and American icon? This guide includes plenty of ways to bring his lighthearted approach to painting into your family’s life, even if your kids aren’t quite ready to tackle a mountain landscape scene.
Who Was Bob Ross? 
Bob Ross started off in a much different career than the artistic pursuits he has become famous for. Believe it or not, Ross actually spent 20 years serving in the U.S. Air Force, during which he even served as a Drill Sergeant! It may be hard to imagine the soft-spoken man shouting orders, and that was actually the way he wanted it – Ross said later in life that he wanted desperately to get away from his former mean, harsh military persona and spread happiness in the world instead.
From a young age, Bob Ross developed his hobby of painting, and began to perfect his skills. Even during his time in the military, Ross would often go home and paint during his lunch breaks while he ate a sandwich!
Artistically, the method Bob Ross popularized is known as the “alla prima”, or “wet-on-wet” technique. Though it has been used commonly since the 1700’s, he popularized the use of the oil method with his early Alaskan landscapes that he painted on old novelty mining pans and sold. When he retired from the military, he began painting and teaching his method full time, eventually creating the Joy of Painting PBS show which ran for over 10 years. Ross filmed the show for free in order to help people everywhere learn to love painting as he did.
Bob Ross died in 1995 at the age of 52, but he left behind over 30,000 paintings and a legacy of making art accessible to anyone. Ross was happy to share his knowledge and love of art while encouraging viewers of his show to try their hand at painting. In Ross’ words, “I think there’s an artist hidden at the bottom of every single one of us.”
How to Get Started with the Joy of Painting Method 
Bob Ross made it look easy to create stunning landscapes and picturesque scenes in a quick 30-minute TV episode. Fortunately, it’s no longer necessary to try to keep up and paint along with Bob as he speeds through the tutorials. With the Joy of Painting DVDs, you can take things as slow as you need to, pausing to perfect your Happy Little Trees and rewinding to see exactly how Bob captured the rugged mountain peaks or fluffy white clouds.
DVD tutorials also make it much easier to follow along while painting as a family! We love the idea of setting up some easels and paints and all following along to a Bob Ross tutorial. Of course, aprons and dropcloths are probably a good idea for very little kids, too! But even they will enjoy attempting to create an original work of art – even if it doesn’t resemble Bob’s.
Just putting paint on a canvas is half the fun, and the entire family can get in on that! Following a Bob Ross tutorial on YouTube might be a good option for families with kiddos who can’t sit through an hour-long painting session – check out this Bob Ross Painting Tutorial Kid’s Edition for some inspiration!
Also be sure to check out our Supplies section below, where you’ll find some perfect artistic options for young kids to paint along while you and the older kids follow the Bob Ross method.
Ready to paint your very first Happy Little Tree? For the absolute beginner, Bob Ross has a 3-hour long workshop designed to instruct anyone in his wet-on-wet painting method, even those who have never painted before. You will discover what materials you need to succeed, learn the foundational concepts of working with color and texture, and create some landscapes of your own
Joy Of Painting 10 DVD Box Set
From the workshop, you can begin to branch out and attempt different scenes with diverse features such as lighthouses, autumn leaves, and nighttime lighting. This DVD includes 9 individual lessons, each one hour in length.
For a well-rounded collection that will showcase most of the basics of Bob Ross’s method, we’d recommend this DVD collection of 20 lessons to start out with. This is a great option when you’ve seen most of Bob Ross’s techniques already and want to try some different scenes.
Interested in delving into a collection of seascapes sure to provide a challenge? This Seascape collection from the Joy of Painting features 13 segments, during which you’ll learn how to paint sandy beaches, sunny skies, and pristine ocean waves.
Some would argue that it isn’t possible to truly capture a style of painting without knowing all about the famous artists who created masterpieces using those techniques. If you are interested in diving deeper and learning more about the man behind the method, the “Bob Ross: The Happy Painter” documentary will provide you with more information about his life away from the canvas.
Stock Up on Painting Supplies 
Bob Ross made it a point to choose simple, affordable materials and paints to make the Joy of Painting method accessible to anyone. Therefore, when starting to paint at home or even as a family, it’s okay to opt for cheaper materials until you gain more skill! Here’s some of our top suggestions for essential materials to practice the Bob Ross method (plus some options for kiddos to practice a method of their own!).
Bob Ross Painting Supplies for Adults
These materials are all you’ll need to follow along with the tutorials featured on the Joy of Painting!
The ultimate kit that includes everything you need – even a Bob Ross instructional DVD! The easel, paints, brushes, and canvas are high quality and great for wet-on-wet oil painting.
Already have your easel and canvas? This is the oil paint set you need to get going! These quintessential Bob Ross oil paints are the exact colors that Bob Ross references in the painting series, including his oft-used Phthalo Blue, Mountain Mixture, and Titanium White.
It’s far easier to recreate a Bob Ross masterpiece or follow along with his tutorials if you are using the exact same oil brushes he uses! These high quality bristle brushes and paint knives/scrapers are authentic Bob Ross branded brushes, so you can be assured that they will do the trick!
Don’t feel like picking out all of the individual components? Not sure if you’re going to stick with painting, but just want to give it a try? We totally understand – this is the kit for you. It’s incredibly affordable and includes the tabletop easel, canvas, paints, and brushes you need to get started.
Bob Ross Painting Materials for Kids and Families
The younger kiddos in the family probably aren’t ready to tackle wet-on-wet oil painting. But we know they’ll love participating in the family artistic endeavor with one of these material kits!
Meeden 46 Piece Oil Painting Set
Older kids will love this sophisticated painting set that includes everything they’ll need to paint an original masterpiece. Comes with a tabletop easel, a variety of brushes and paint knives, a set of 24 oil paints, assorted canvases, and more.
Ohuhu 56 Piece Oil Painting Set
This kit includes everything they need and nothing they don’t! They’ll be ready to start painting with the basic oil brushes, paints, a few canvases, and a tabletop easel.
This kit includes everything they need and nothing they don’t! They’ll be ready to start painting with the basic oil brushes, paints, a few canvases, and a tabletop easel.
Time to Paint Your Own Happy Little Forest! 
If you’re looking for a new hobby to practice on your own or with the family, painting might be a great option! Bob Ross was a firm believer that anyone can create art, whether or not they have experience (or an adorable squirrel sidekick!). By following the Bob Ross painting method and practicing the wet-on-wet techniques, you’ll be well on your way to creating your own beautiful nature paintings. Just remember, in the words of Bob Ross – “We don’t make mistakes. We just have happy accidents.”
The post Bob Ross Painting Tutorial Starter Kit For Beginners appeared first on Nerdy With Children.
Our Bob Ross Painting Tutorial Starter Kit will hopefully inspire you to take a break and create art as a family.
Whether your family is full of creative types or none of you have ever picked up a paintbrush, Bob Ross’ painting method is designed for anyone and everyone. With his memorable perm, an adorable pocket squirrel, and the infamous PBS program The Joy of Painting, Bob Ross will always be remembered as the painter of Happy Little Trees (and spectacular scenic landscape paintings). But how did he become such a well-known painter and American icon? This guide includes plenty of ways to bring his lighthearted approach to painting into your family’s life, even if your kids aren’t quite ready to tackle a mountain landscape scene.
Who Was Bob Ross?
Bob Ross started off in a much different career than the artistic pursuits he has become famous for. Believe it or not, Ross actually spent 20 years serving in the U.S. Air Force, during which he even served as a Drill Sergeant! It may be hard to imagine the soft-spoken man shouting orders, and that was actually the way he wanted it – Ross said later in life that he wanted desperately to get away from his former mean, harsh military persona and spread happiness in the world instead.
From a young age, Bob Ross developed his hobby of painting, and began to perfect his skills. Even during his time in the military, Ross would often go home and paint during his lunch breaks while he ate a sandwich!
Artistically, the method Bob Ross popularized is known as the “alla prima”, or “wet-on-wet” technique. Though it has been used commonly since the 1700’s, he popularized the use of the oil method with his early Alaskan landscapes that he painted on old novelty mining pans and sold. When he retired from the military, he began painting and teaching his method full time, eventually creating the Joy of Painting PBS show which ran for over 10 years. Ross filmed the show for free in order to help people everywhere learn to love painting as he did.
Bob Ross died in 1995 at the age of 52, but he left behind over 30,000 paintings and a legacy of making art accessible to anyone. Ross was happy to share his knowledge and love of art while encouraging viewers of his show to try their hand at painting. In Ross’ words, “I think there’s an artist hidden at the bottom of every single one of us.”
How to Get Started with the Joy of Painting Method
Bob Ross made it look easy to create stunning landscapes and picturesque scenes in a quick 30-minute TV episode. Fortunately, it’s no longer necessary to try to keep up and paint along with Bob as he speeds through the tutorials. With the Joy of Painting DVDs, you can take things as slow as you need to, pausing to perfect your Happy Little Trees and rewinding to see exactly how Bob captured the rugged mountain peaks or fluffy white clouds.
DVD tutorials also make it much easier to follow along while painting as a family! We love the idea of setting up some easels and paints and all following along to a Bob Ross tutorial. Of course, aprons and dropcloths are probably a good idea for very little kids, too! But even they will enjoy attempting to create an original work of art – even if it doesn’t resemble Bob’s.
Just putting paint on a canvas is half the fun, and the entire family can get in on that! Following a Bob Ross tutorial on YouTube might be a good option for families with kiddos who can’t sit through an hour-long painting session – check out this Bob Ross Painting Tutorial Kid’s Edition for some inspiration!
Also be sure to check out our Supplies section below, where you’ll find some perfect artistic options for young kids to paint along while you and the older kids follow the Bob Ross method.
Ready to paint your very first Happy Little Tree? For the absolute beginner, Bob Ross has a 3-hour long workshop designed to instruct anyone in his wet-on-wet painting method, even those who have never painted before. You will discover what materials you need to succeed, learn the foundational concepts of working with color and texture, and create some landscapes of your own
Joy Of Painting 10 DVD Box Set
From the workshop, you can begin to branch out and attempt different scenes with diverse features such as lighthouses, autumn leaves, and nighttime lighting. This DVD includes 9 individual lessons, each one hour in length.
For a well-rounded collection that will showcase most of the basics of Bob Ross’s method, we’d recommend this DVD collection of 20 lessons to start out with. This is a great option when you’ve seen most of Bob Ross’s techniques already and want to try some different scenes.
Interested in delving into a collection of seascapes sure to provide a challenge? This Seascape collection from the Joy of Painting features 13 segments, during which you’ll learn how to paint sandy beaches, sunny skies, and pristine ocean waves.
Some would argue that it isn’t possible to truly capture a style of painting without knowing all about the famous artists who created masterpieces using those techniques. If you are interested in diving deeper and learning more about the man behind the method, the “Bob Ross: The Happy Painter” documentary will provide you with more information about his life away from the canvas.
Stock Up on Painting Supplies
Bob Ross made it a point to choose simple, affordable materials and paints to make the Joy of Painting method accessible to anyone. Therefore, when starting to paint at home or even as a family, it’s okay to opt for cheaper materials until you gain more skill! Here’s some of our top suggestions for essential materials to practice the Bob Ross method (plus some options for kiddos to practice a method of their own!).
Bob Ross Painting Supplies for Adults
These materials are all you’ll need to follow along with the tutorials featured on the Joy of Painting!
The ultimate kit that includes everything you need – even a Bob Ross instructional DVD! The easel, paints, brushes, and canvas are high quality and great for wet-on-wet oil painting.
Already have your easel and canvas? This is the oil paint set you need to get going! These quintessential Bob Ross oil paints are the exact colors that Bob Ross references in the painting series, including his oft-used Phthalo Blue, Mountain Mixture, and Titanium White.
It’s far easier to recreate a Bob Ross masterpiece or follow along with his tutorials if you are using the exact same oil brushes he uses! These high quality bristle brushes and paint knives/scrapers are authentic Bob Ross branded brushes, so you can be assured that they will do the trick!
Don’t feel like picking out all of the individual components? Not sure if you’re going to stick with painting, but just want to give it a try? We totally understand – this is the kit for you. It’s incredibly affordable and includes the tabletop easel, canvas, paints, and brushes you need to get started.
Bob Ross Painting Materials for Kids and Families
The younger kiddos in the family probably aren’t ready to tackle wet-on-wet oil painting. But we know they’ll love participating in the family artistic endeavor with one of these material kits!
Meeden 46 Piece Oil Painting Set
Older kids will love this sophisticated painting set that includes everything they’ll need to paint an original masterpiece. Comes with a tabletop easel, a variety of brushes and paint knives, a set of 24 oil paints, assorted canvases, and more.
Ohuhu 56 Piece Oil Painting Set
This kit includes everything they need and nothing they don’t! They’ll be ready to start painting with the basic oil brushes, paints, a few canvases, and a tabletop easel.
This kit includes everything they need and nothing they don’t! They’ll be ready to start painting with the basic oil brushes, paints, a few canvases, and a tabletop easel.
Time to Paint Your Own Happy Little Forest!
If you’re looking for a new hobby to practice on your own or with the family, painting might be a great option! Bob Ross was a firm believer that anyone can create art, whether or not they have experience (or an adorable squirrel sidekick!). By following the Bob Ross painting method and practicing the wet-on-wet techniques, you’ll be well on your way to creating your own beautiful nature paintings. Just remember, in the words of Bob Ross – “We don’t make mistakes. We just have happy accidents.”
The post Bob Ross Painting Tutorial Starter Kit For Beginners appeared first on Nerdy With Children.
We’ve compiled a list of the best Marvel Superhero nursery decor ideas for your little superhero’s lair.
One of the exciting parts of preparing for a newborn is decorating a themed Marvel superhero baby nursery. Your baby’s nursery should be a place of solace and relaxation, where you can spend time enjoying your little one’s antics and catering to their every need. That’s why we recommend turning your nursery into an expression of your unique interests, such as the Marvel cinematic universe.
But where to begin?
First, head over to our comprehensive guide to decorating a nerdy nursery. You’ll find plenty of tips that will help you curate a space you love, without looking tacky or spending a fortune.
Next, check out all of the awesome products we’ve gathered into this buying guide! Surround your little one with heroes that are truly out of this world: stock up on nursery essentials and unique decor items featuring your favorite superheroes.
Nursery Essentials
From lighting to bedding to sound-proofing curtains, there are several products that you truly need to help make your life much easier as a new parent. Take a look at our recommended products that combine ‘necessary’ with ‘nerdy’!
Crib Sheets
You’ll need to have several crib sheets on hand, so you can wash them and put baby back to sleep without having to wait for the laundry.
These handmade crib sheets are made of 100% cotton and come in three bright, colorful patterns that will perfectly complement your Marvel nursery! Choose from a classic collage pattern with renditions of the original comic book characters, a graphic design set against comic book strip patterns, or an Infinity War pattern that includes many of the new characters alongside the classic superhero standbys. Each sheet set also includes a matching pillowcase.
Spider-Man Fitted Baby Crib Sheet
Partial to Spider-Man? This Etsy shop sells an assortment of crib sheet, blanket, and comforter sets with 3 colorful Spider-Man designs, so you will be able to find the perfect set to fit your needs. The bedding sets are made from 100% cotton for washability and comfort that will hold its color through many washes.
Black Panther Fitted Crib Sheet
Put your little one under the protection of the King of Wakanda with these Black Panther sheets! If you only need the crib sheets or you are starting from scratch and looking for a crib skirt, sheets, comforter, rail guard, and bumpers, this Etsy shop has you covered!
For Captain Marvel fans, there’s no better crib sheet than this awesome, 100% cotton custom made sheet. It features a bright, colorful design with classic comic-book style sketches of Captain Marvel. This seller also offers custom sizing, so if you have a unique crib mattress that is thicker than the average 4-5”, you should be able to find the perfect fit from this shop on Etsy.
Lamps
Lamps are a fun decor piece for any room, but in nurseries they are especially helpful, allowing you to avoid using harsh overhead lights while rocking baby to sleep or walking around the nursery late at night.
This classic lamp features a bright blue base and a unique lampshade adorned with Infinity War characters. The coolest part? A metal plate was rolled in to make the body of the lamp base.
Allow the Infinity Stones in Thanos’ gauntlet to light your little one’s nursery through the night! This cool 3D lamp has 7 different color options and projects a detailed image of the Infinity Gauntlet which will look awesome on a dresser or bookshelf in your baby’s nursery.
Looking for a lamp that features some of the classic characters? This 3D lamp projects an image of Spider-Man flanked by Iron Man and Captain America! With 7 color options, you can change the appearance of the lamp every day of the week, or pick a color that matches the rest of your decor.
Curtains
Curtains are an important visual tool when structuring the design of your nursery, since they are such a large canvas that serves to ground the room. But they also serve as an essential component of any nursery, blocking out noise and light so your baby can sleep soundly.
These official licensed Marvel Avengers curtains are sure to be the focal point of any Marvel Superhero nursery! The bold panels feature close-ups of beloved heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Black Panther, and even Groot! And the washable fabric will be appreciated by new parents, who may be surprised by how far spit-up can travel across a room.
If you want just a touch of Marvel flair without the bold look of full-length curtain panels, these valences might be the perfect solution! They can be hung on their own and used with blinds, or paired with a sheer curtain for a cohesive look. These valences are made of a Captain Marvel collage fabric that matches one of the crib sheets listed above.
Nursery Decor (The Fun Stuff!)
Not that the essentials aren’t fun- any nursery shopping that involves superheroes is fun! But these accessories will allow you to customize the nursery to best fit your family’s needs, while also creating a unique, one-of-a-kind nursery where you’ll love spending time and making memories with your little one.
Mobile
Provide visual and mental stimulation for your little one with a hanging mobile full of your favorite Marvel superheroes!
The bright, bold colors of these hand-crafted felt characters are sure to delight your little one, and be the perfect addition to your Marvel nursery. Customize the mobile by choosing from ten-character options including Thor, Loki, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, Captain America, Scarlet Witch, Doctor Strange, and Black Panther. Which ones would look best in your nursery?
Some of the classics like Thor and Captain America join Black Panther and DC’s Batman beneath a starry “sky” in this felt mobile. Stars, clouds, and a moon surround handmade felt versions of these iconic characters.
Wall Decor
You’ll need to expand your Marvel horizons to appreciate this set of 6 nursery prints that includes one DC character! But it’s okay- Batman is the perfect addition to some classic Marvel Avengers in these ridiculously adorable renderings of baby superheroes! I mean, come on- has the Hulk ever looked cuter?!
Books
Reading to your child is an excellent way to foster language development from an early age. And what better reading material is there than stories based on the Marvel cinematic universe?
A sleepy baby Groot getting ready for bed is interrupted by Rocket, who needs Groots help to guard the galaxy once again! An adorable board book to introduce your little one to some of the newer Marvel characters.
Spider-Man is on a new mission: to introduce your baby to letters, numbers, colors, animals and more through this collection of Superhero Adventures learning board books! Perfect for little hands and learning minds.
A is for Avengers…B is for Black Panther! Teach your baby the names of Marvel characters as well as their alphabet with this Alphablock book!
Bedding and Blankets
This ultra-soft, machine washable fleece blanket is perfect for snuggling with baby in a rocking chair, or adding an extra layer of warmth on chilly nights. The bold colors and rich navy blue fleece will complement Marvel crib sheets and decor!
Surround your little superhero-in-training with the protection of the Avengers! Cute baby versions of the Hulk, Black Widow, Iron Man, and others adorn the throw pillows, duvet cover, floor mat, sheet, and bumper in this nursery bedding set! The pastel colors and soft, washable fabrics are perfect for a Marvel nursery.
Everything Else
A Spider-Man toy box will be a welcome addition in your nursery so you can store stuffed animals, rattles, teethers, and other baby toys. As your little one ages, you can teach them to put their own toys away in the organizing bin!
Is your little one worthy to wield the hammer of Thor? It certainly appears that they are worthy to wield this Thor baby rattle! The perfect gift for the youngest Avengers to start building their strength.
Even superheroes need to keep their rooms clean and organized. Start setting up good habits and maintaining a tidy nursery with these organizing cubes. Each bin features the symbol of a different Marvel superhero!
Marvel Superheroes Switch Cover Plate
Why have a boring white switchplate cover when you could have an Avengers switchplate cover? Add that finishing touch to your nursery with an awesome cover that will fit over a light switch, or an outlet!
This 3-in-1 decor piece makes a cute rug and play mat, but the drawstring around the edge actually allows you to turn this play mat into a drawstring toy storage bag! Quick and easy clean-up, especially as your little one ages and the nursery turns into a playroom. Captain America’s shield will remain an attractive decor piece and a functional part of your little one’s room!
Marvel Monthly Milestone Stickers
This is one trend that we are totally on-board with: taking themed monthly milestone photos for the first year of your baby’s life! These Marvel monthly stickers will help set the theme for the photos, and these Marvel Superhero baby clothes will look absolutely perfect for your photoshoots! Looking for inspiration for nurseries based on different fandom themes? Check out our Star Wars and Harry Potter nursery buying guides too!
The post Marvel Superhero Baby Nursery Ideas & Decor appeared first on Geek Baby Clothes.
Keeping in mind that it’s a good idea to still heavily limit screen time for young ones, we’ve listed below the not-so-obvious best TV shows for 7 year olds.
Seven year olds are taking their first steps into the wider world beyond the shelter of preschool and kindergarten. As a wise old wizard once told us, home is in some ways behind them, and the world is ahead. Here are some TV shows that might give your kids stories and companions for those steps into the world of grade school. I’ve tried not to list shows that Nerdy With Children readers may already be familiar with, like Batman: the Animated Series, and instead tried to put a spotlight on great shows that you might not know about. If these shows seem a bit on the younger side for your child, check out our best TV shows for 10-year-olds.
Transformers Animated 
There are 50 hojillion quadrillion Transformers cartoons, and this is the best one. The main Transformers characters are all there, but in Transformers Animated they’re more human than they usually are. Instead of being unstoppable super-soldiers, the heroes in Transformers Animated are the Cybertronian equivalent of a road crew. Washouts from Autobot Academy, they’ve been sent to the least desirable post in the universe: Detroit. The heroes doubt themselves and each other. They’re terrified of Megatron and the other Decepticon villains, as any psychologically healthy life form would be. I like Transformers Animated because, in addition to having 127% of your US recommended daily allowance of robots hitting each other, it establishes characters and tells actual stories with them. The cherry on top is that Townsend Coleman, who was the voice of good-natured blowhard The Tick, provides the voice for good-natured blowhard Sentinel Prime. Speaking of The Tick…
The Tick 
I can’t pretend to be rational or unbiased about The Tick. I read the comic book as a callow youth and got scarily and probably annoyingly enthusiastic about it. The Tick cartoon is entirely faithful to the spirit of the comic. It’s not in any way, shape or form in contact with reality. This is rarely a problem for The Tick himself because he’s huge, superhumanly strong, nigh-invulnerable and, most importantly, has his friend Arthur to sweat the small stuff like living on planet Earth. Every now and then, The Tick sneaks a life lesson in. There’s a great episode centered around the secondary character of Sewer Urchin. In most episodes, Sewer Urchin is out of his depth and is benignly useless. In “The Tick vs. Filth”, the Tick and his friends brave the sewers beneath their hometown of The City, and Sewer Urchin turns into the Batman of subterranean infrastructure. He’s completely in tune with his environment, is a paragon of all the skills the sewer demands and saves the day. If your child loves The Tick, think about introducing them to superhero movies for kids.
Wild Kratts 
Chris and Martin Kratt are zoologists who learn about animals using their ultra-tech ship and
“Creature Power” suits. The Creature Power suits are the best part of the show. They give the Kratt brothers the abilities of whatever animal the suit is designed to look like. The Creature Power suits look a bit like if Tony Stark had felt moved to become Iron Hippopotamus or Iron Shrew instead of Iron Man. I didn’t always watch Wild Kratts closely with my daughter, but I always paid attention during the Creature Suit parts so I could see what this episode’s suits looked like. On the show, the Kratt Brothers and their team face off against a not very threatening rogue’s gallery of villains who try to harm animals somehow. Your kid will pick up a few animal facts and the Kratt Brothers seem like mensches. If your kid liked Go Diego Go! as a toddler, then Wild Kratts is a great show for them to level up to.
Rocky and Bullwinkle & Friends 
I’m not sure that seven-year-olds are going to get all the nuances of Rocky and Bullwinkle, but I love this show so much that I’m going to write about it anyway. Rocky and Bullwinkle are a flying squirrel and a moose who live in Frostbite Falls, MN, and have adventures. The show has a lot of sub-shows contained within it, like Fractured Fairy Tales and Dudley Do-Right, but the moose and squirrel are the main draws. Rocky and Bullwinkle are holy fools. They never come to harm and triumph over Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale because their hearts are pure and their intentions are good. I’m not a TV scholar, but I’m betting that Rocky and Bullwinkle was one of the first, if not the first, kids’ TV shows that also had jokes that only adults would get. There’s crazy action and funny animals for the kids and social satire that still works after 60 years.
Dino Dana 
A spinoff of Dino Dan, Dino Dana is about a girl who has a “Dino Field Guide” that lets her bring dinosaurs to life using pretty-good-for-the-budget-they-must-be-on computer graphics. The dinosaurs are impressive, but not scary. It’s fun to see how the show imagines dinosaurs in the suburbs, and it’s good for girls to see themselves represented on TV as scientists. Dana observes the dinosaurs wandering around her neighborhood closely, and applies what she learns to her relationships with her family and other areas of her life. Dana’s family is blended and multiracial, which is presented as the unremarkable fact of life that it is.
Chi’s Sweet Adventure 
Chi’s Sweet Home and Chi’s Sweet Adventure are anime based on a manga. Chi is a kitten who comes to live with a young boy named Yohei and his parents. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed in Yohei’s apartment! Yohei in his family have to figure out how to take care of Chi while also keeping her hidden from their landlord. Chi and Yohei both have a lot to learn. Chi learns how to be a cat by taking “cat lessons” from an older cat in her neighborhood. Yohei learns all the things you need to do to take care of a cat, like clipping her claws and making sure she has a clean litter box. It’s a gentle, sweet story and it might especially resonate for kids who are getting to know a new pet.
We Bare Bears 
I’m probably exposing how out of touch I am by including We Bare Bears on a list of underrated TV shows for seven year olds, but I’m putting it on here anyway. We Bare Bears is about three bears who are brothers: Grizzz, Ice Bear, and Pan Pan. Grizz is easygoing and let’s just say not terribly detail-oriented. Ice Bear is scarily competent and speaks in a monotone. Pan Pan is a nervous wreck and is of course my favorite. In every episode, the bears try to do some normal thing like fix a vacuum cleaner that they partially-to-completely fail at. The one where Ice Bear drinks too much coffee is hilarious, and my daughter and I refer to it all the time. There are flashbacks to their childhood as homeless bears that make the adult viewer understand that the three of them have probably seen some things. Whatever else they fail at, they succeed at being brothers. They clearly love each other and have one another’s backs.
The post Best TV Shows for 7 Year Olds appeared first on Nerdy With Children.
Writer: Jason Aaron / Artist(s): Ed McGuinness & Mark Morales / Marvel Comics
I like to think there’s a Big Two event style book out there for everyone and whatever type of storytelling comic readers like. Heroes Reborn does a lot to try and move in multiple spaces and attract different types or readers the same way a genre-based summer popcorn film does. Is it effective? Well, that’s another thing altogether.
Issue #1 hits the ground running as we follow Blade, the Shaft of vampire hunters, getting his bearings in an unfamiliar world where the Avengers never assembled for the first time. In their place, the Squadron Supreme have apparently been Earth’s Mightiest Heroes for a while, causing a ripple effect that places some familiar Marvel characters in rather unfamiliar directions. Some take on different personas while others never become heroes at all. On its face, this seems like a great “What If?” story that might have some promising insight going forward. But there’s a corny half hearted feel that’s difficult to reconcile. The dialogue feels dated and ridiculous even for superhero fare. On top of that, there are moments within the action that are complete headscratchers. There’s a scene where a character breaks the hold of another by flexing the muscles in their neck. How that didn’t get a quick backspace in the editing process is beyond me. I get that the primary function of this first issue is more about showing us how and why this world is different from the one we know. However, the script devotes a LOT of exposition to explaining this when the stellar artwork does just fine showing us and almost none of this is used to explain why Blade, of all people is here instead of….anyone else.
This is one of those premises that asks you to turn your brain off and embrace the ridiculousness. But benefit of the doubt is a luxury that should only be afforded when everything surrounding the weak points is well executed. And the script didn’t quite stick the landing enough to justify a pass this time around. However, where the story is a little lacking, the artwork picks up the slack. Ed McGuinness in particular hits it out of the park with his over-the-top style being put to good use in this issue. His approach is perfect for making the Squadron Supreme look a lot more awesome than they’ve ever truly been given credit for. Major alpha dogs like Hyperion, Doctor Spectrum, and Power Princess handling A-list villains, holding their own in battles that almost make the book quake when you hold it….is easily the best thing this book has going for it so far.
Bottom Line: Narrative-wise, this is a goofy book that feels a little rushed but that doesn’t stop it from being somewhat entertaining and gorgeous to look at. It’s not legendary writing and I can’t promise it has a lot of re-reading value, but it’s worth a look.
7 Wesley Snipes one-liners out of 10
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