TV to CD: Tots Will Enjoy Wimzie, Maisy

CD-ROM

Play Along With Wimzie. Cinar Films Inc. and Simon & Schuster Interactive. Mac/PC. Ages 2 to 5. $20. (DVD-ROM available in mid-October). https://www.ssinteractive.com/

Fans of “Wimzie’s House,” the popular PBS show about assorted endearing little monster kids in day care, won’t be disappointed in this entertaining, fee’l-good interactive spinoff. Wimzie and her pals, on video, guide kids through memory games, puzzle-solving and games to identify feelings and develop listening and logic skills. There are three levels of play and lots of encouragement along the way.

Maisy’s Playhouse. Sound Source Interactive and Simon & Schuster Interactive. Mac/PC. $20. Ages 3 to 6. https://www.soundsourceinteractive.com/.

Nickelodeon’s “Maisy,” the preschooler show based on boldly colored books about an irresistible little mouse and her animal pals, makes a terrific transition to CD-ROM. Navigation is a snap as children play seven games or go into Maisy’s bedroom, bathroom and kitchen, where click-on visuals change with each visit.

In three levels of play, children can put together and decorate broken gingerbread cookies--and print out the results--play hide-and-seek, dress Maisy, learn colors, count, tidy up the house, help Maisy paint pictures and more. The vivid artwork is a treat.

Video

Sitting for Success. GRA Video Production Services. $20. 30 minutes. (847) 608-0528.

Any teenager considering baby-sitting to earn extra money will find this comprehensive informational video a huge help. It’s one of the best of its kind that I’ve seen. Hosted by a couple of real teen sitters, with advice from a police officer, a firefighter and a family health educator, it offers child-care basics and safety guidelines for specific situations. These include a couple of really tricky, potentially intimidating ones: the unexpected arrival of an ex-spouse (you don’t open the door without an OK from the client) and the return home of an intoxicated parent (don’t let him or her drive you home).

Each section includes review lists and pop-up balloons with crucial reminders: Never shake or strike a child; never leave a child unattended around water, etc. There are suggestions for play, pointers on what questions to ask parents, what you need to know about your client’s home, how to present yourself, where to find clients (not by generally distributed fliers or on the Internet--that could attract “creeps”).

It ends with a good multiple-choice test and more important advice: Would-be sitters should also take a baby-sitting class and parents should watch and discuss the video with their teens.