Monday, February 21, 2011

A Meditation on Max and Ruby

The kids' new favorite tv show is "Max and Ruby." Daddy and I were a bit skeptical at first; the kids have a Max and Ruby Valentine book and we just weren't impressed with it. Max seemed a little dim (as per Daddy) and Ruby seemed awfully bossy. But, hey, if it means I can get dinner made, they can watch it!

So after weeks of watching episode after episode of "Max and Ruby" I have decided I like it. I really do. Not sure Daddy is sold, but he tolerates it. And, in all my free time, I've been contemplating the greater meaning of those two silly bunnies. Bear with me....

1. I need to take patience lessons from Ruby. Ok, I know if she tried to boss Max less she wouldn't need as much patience (oh wait, that might be a lesson for me too)! However, this big sister never, ever loses her cool with her little brother. No matter how many times he gets her out of bed, messes with her toys, or flies toys into her baked goods, she never raises her voice, speaks meanly, or even sounds remotely frustrated. Phew, a true bunny saint.

2. Max is one language disordered bunny in need of therapy or at least, that's my take on Max. He is one cool little bunny. Very bright, curious, and inventive. I cannot figure out how old this bunny is supposed to be, but given his motor dexterity, his language skills are certainly not matching! He always knows exactly what's going on, more so than Ruby, usually, but he doesn't have all the skills to TELL Ruby what the deal is. He reminds me of a lot of my preschoolers with expressive language delays.

3. Max and Ruby provide wonderful play scripts for two-year-olds. Shortly after starting to watch Max and Ruby, the kids could sit at the lunch table and tell what happened in each little episode. Recently though, the kiddos have started acting out the stories they see! They have made fliers to pass out for a Bunny Scout bake sale. And looked for a missing Mrs. Quack. And most complexly they made banners for a Bunny Scout parade and then, paraded! Check it out!

First, the kids (on their own) got out their paper and crayons and "made banners" for the Bunny Scout Parade (from the episode where Ruby and Louise make a banner for a parade to represent the Bunny Scouts):

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Then, we had a parade!! (This might make you dizzy!)


As you can see, fun times! I am so impressed with the pretending that Colin and Gillian do! Makes me feel a little less guilty about the tv that they watch!

And, it took me exactly two weeks to write this blog post since we have been down and out with a NASTY upper respiratory virus for ten days. Hoping we are on the upswing now!

5 comments:

the edwards clan said...

I love this post, Lea!! My kids have been huge fans of Max and Ruby at various times throughout the last few years (each taking their turn at being a fan). I LOVED each of your observations. One that you did not point out, though, is the fact that you NEVER see their parents!! What's up with that? :o) I actually "liked" a FB page entitled "Max & Ruby: Where are Your Parents?" :o) As for the books -- I bought an ABC one for Benny awhile back and no, I was not impressed with that either. The show is definitely better. (How often is that the case?! Hardly ever!) Anyway, keep having fun with your little bunnies!

Mama said...

Makes me want to see this show. Maybe Ellie would like it. We haven't been watching nearly as much TV since we've moved to the new house (since there is actually room to play here - imagine that), but it might be a good break from Dora... We will have to try it. Sorry we couldn't catch you this weekend. It would have been great, but I also understand the luxury of getting away and not wanting to bog that time down with "other" stuff. Sorry State Patrick's Day got in the way - CRAZY stuff!! Glad you guys got some time though - what I wouldn't give for a night away with my husband. Haven't had one since Ellie was born...

Mary Ann said...

Loved your interpretation of Max and Ruby! Very clever and insightful!
Those children are very creative and certainly have some higher order thinking for such little people! Bunny Parade was awesome. From a Reading Specialist 's point of view, they have already master the concept that spoken speech can be written down and then can be read. They know that "symbol" stand for spoken sounds, Pretty cool!

Anonymous said...

I love it! Oh my goodness but those two are adorib!

I must admit I have never watched the show, but I do remember many years ago I had a group of 4/5's that literally became obsessed with the book "Max and Ruby and the Chocolate Chicken" To this day I have no idea why, and can hardly even recall what that book was about, but I can see it clearly in my minds eye! We had to read it every day, fights would break out at rest time over who could take it on their mat with them and they would hide chocolate chickens in the dramatic play area. I was a young teacher and probably not too insightful about such things, I would love to go back to that situation now and reflect on what the appeal was!
:) Fairlight

Lisa said...

How adorable! We've been having a lot of pretend play around our house too and it's so fun. I've never seen Max & Ruby, but it sounds cute. Dylan is a fan of the Super Readers and Word World on PBS. It's pretty amazing to see them pick things up so quickly (Dylan will go to his chalkboard wall and write letters).