Customer Reviews

The Wiggles: Top of the Tots

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

My 3 year old daughter, a huge Wiggles fan, loves this video. We purchased it less than a week ago, and she has asked to watch it nearly every day. The songs are catchy, and after just the first viewing, she was already starting to sing along.

One of the best parts of this video was that The Wiggles explored several avenues of the work force. There were interviews with a doctor, a dentist, and a swimmer, and a NY firefighter talked about the gear that he wears and his job, which was one of my daughter's favorite parts. There was also a performance by an airline pilot and his passengers and crew.

While there are dances, many of them are performed by The Wiggly dancers, instead of just The Wiggles themselves, but the dances are all great and have the potential of getting your child involved. This video also incorporates more scenic views, and footage of the outside world, rather than focusing primarily on dancing. I felt like this was more of an educational video almost (which is not really a bad thing), but it was also packed with a whole lot of fun. If you're new to The Wiggles, I would suggest perhaps viewing one or several of their earlier tapes first. If you're looking for a video about the working world, this is a great choice.

I think this Wiggles video is good because it offers a nice selection of teaching with the usual Wiggles song and dance format. I like the character career profiles and their simplistic job descriptions. I'm not particularly put off about the predominence of "professional dancers" over the original Wiggles. I think this format is a refreshing change, but retains enough of the familiarity of the more traditional Wiggles releases. The DVD offers an extensive (about 20 minutes) "making of" preview of a yet to be released Cold Spaghetti Western. There is a significant amount of behind the scenes footage as well as outtakes and documentary interview-type profiles of actors and characters. The DVD has a Jukebox song selection where you may chose to watch//listen to individual songs. There is also a photo gallery which I believe is not narrated. The songs are new and refreshing- not dull and drippy like I thought they were in Wiggle Bay. At least one of the songs I have previously seen on the TV series (i.e. Central Park New York). I think this DVD is worth buying, especially for any Wiggles fan (we have at least 10). If you are new to the Wiggles, this would make a fine start. You might be interested in knowing however, that earlier releases (before their rocket to fame) generally are much simpler, less flashy productions, and focused more on just upbeat singing and dancing of the Wiggles themselves and little kids.

My two year old loves this video! The songs and dances are great, and I am so pleased to see the REAL Wiggles again (their last video Space Dancing was animated). Two wiggly thumbs up!

This is the only Wiggles video that my 2-year-old daughter has not liked. She is a huge Wiggles fan and will stand at the DVD player shouting "Wiggles" if she goes too long without seeing them. Unfortunately with this DVD she lost interest almost immediately. After 10 minutes she was asking me to put something else in. Considering the fact that she would have the Wiggles on the TV all day long if I let her that was quite a shock.

Obviously just because she doesn't like this DVD doesn't mean that other children will not but I think there are several reasons why she didn't like it. First, the Wiggles themselves continue the trend of acting more like a band then a dance troupe. In most of the songs they are just playing instruments while the professional dancers do all of the work. Second, the dance routines are not as lively or complex as in previous Wiggles tapes. Third, the Wiggles themselves seem to get very little camera time doing anything interesting. Dorothy, Wags, and Henry are barely in the video at all and Captain Feathersword spends more time playing the drums than being his normal riotous self. He only has one or two scenes where he shows off his silliness and considering he is my daughter's favorite character that was a big negative. I think that if your child is one who likes to listen to the music CDs then this video should be fine. If your child cares less about the songs and more about what the Wiggles are doing onscreen then you might want to rent this DVD or borrow it from a friend as a test before buying it.

Their songs keep on getting better and better... These are some of the best tunes they've ever written. I find myself singing them all day. My nearly 2-year-old LOVES THIS DVD! She loves the dogs and the airplanes and the firetrucks and the cows... I like the educational material incorporated into the songs/skits. I think the interesting and neat thing about The Wiggles is their ability to write songs that both kids and parents like. Some of my child's "music" for children is barely tolerable whereas I never get sick of anything by The Wiggles, especially their more recent releases. The only drawback to this DVD is there is very little "solo" Dorothy, Wags, Henry or Captain Feathersord scenes but for some reason the whole big group ensemble along with the dancers and children really works. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND. IT'S WONDERFUL.

The newest of the Wiggles video, this one really is different. They're back in the studio again but also out in the streets too. It's neat to see them at the Great Wall of China, New York City, etc., to introduce children to various occupations and how they help us. You don't usually hear words like "botanist" and "horticulturalist" in children's songs, but you'll hear it in this video! I just love the educational value of these videos and all the positive reinforcement they provide. It's just refreshing to see something positive for a change. My child loves this video and really enjoyed the "Feeling Chirpy" song. Pretty funny stuff there! That song alone is worth the price of the DVD. Try keeping that one out of your head! Going through many occupations in this video, the Wiggles do a great job explaining what each person does and how they help us. It also is a great idea that they included going to the doctor and the dentist on it - this is a great way to get rid of any hesitations that your child may have. My little one just loves this DVD. I like hearing him singing along to "Bow Wow Wow Wow." No, the Wiggles are not dancing as much in this one but oh well. It's a great video. The only part I didn't like was the swimming section. It's a little dry and could have used some spicing up a bit. You HAVE to get the DVD to see the interview that Murray is doing with Shamus (one of the children in the video). Murray starts off asking Shamus about baking bread, but he winds up telling Murray this great fishing story! It's pretty hysterical! Plus the out-takes of the making of the "Cold Spaghetti" western are great fun! That pirate is something else once again. He should get awards for what he does. Thanks Wiggles!

I bought "Top of the Tots" for my 2 year old son, who is the ultimate Wiggles fan. It took a couple of viewings before he got the hang of it, and now he asks to watch it almost as much as "Yummy, Yummy" (his favorite). This DVD focuses on different jobs that people do (fireman, cowboy, dentist, etc.). There is no storyline, just the guys singing about different careers. As usual, the tunes are catchy and fun. From my experience, I think this DVD is better suited for slightly older children rather than a two-year-old.

My 15 month old originally liked this DVD. After three viewings, however, she's bored with it. As an adult, I was bored with the first viewing, and we're a Wiggle-friendly house.

This DVD isn't as abysmal as "Space Dancing," but it's not as charming her favorites: "Wiggle Time" and "Hoop-De-Doo!" The songs have lyrics that are far too complex for little ones to sing along with. "Feeling Chirpy" has a long list of all the things birds can do, but there's no rhyme scheme to help you remember what they are. It's just a musical laundry list.

The songs are also not very interesting musically-speaking. Whereas past Wiggles songs drew on gospel, world music, 50's rock, 60's beach music, doo-wop, and lots of other sources. The songs on "Top of the Tots" seem mainly to be inspired by current pop songs, which, in my opinion, are mainly dreck.

There's not much in the way of imitative fun -- flapping arms, hot potato hands, quack-quacking, and wiggling that we've all grown accustomed to.

Like other reviewers, I'd like to see more from the children featured on the video. Unlike other reviewers, however, I think there's way too much of a push on this DVD to present "educational" information -- going to the doctor or the dentist or whatever. I like some education with my entertainment or some entertainment with my education, but this video is neither all that entertaining nor all that educational.

On a final note, we need more Captain Feathersword. Paul Paddick, the actor who plays the captain, is a gifted comedian with great clowning skills. His humor really could have helped this video, but he's chiefly relegated to sitting behind a drum set and mugging for the camera. If that's not bad enough, he's now sporting really awful sideburns that don't look very pirate-like at all.

In the end, this video is yet another example of how my Wiggle Pants Rule keeps proving itself: "If the Wiggles are wearing plain black pants, it's probably a pretty good video. If they're wearing the black pants with the colored piping down the side (AKA "Star Trek pants"), then you're taking your chances."

I am 7, my baby sister is 2 and she LOVES the Wiggles...but not this video! The songs all sound the same and the DVD is kinda boring. She doesn't even dance to this one. I would say to buy another Wiggles DVD instead of this one.

Based on the 32 previous reviews and my own experience, I have concluded that if this is your first Wiggles DVD, chances are your child will love it (until he/she sees some of the better ones); if your child is already a Wiggles fan to some of the earlier classics, then he/she will probably be bored and walk away like my 23 months old did.

I can see that the band tried hard to "improve" in ways they did not need. It became too "techy" for a toddler. The talks are too long and too complicated. The dance moves are either not there (everybody sitting and waving a veggie), or too complicated to follow. During singing, constant camera switching loses a little one's attention rather than grabbing it.

It is OK to watch on TV when you catch the show, but not worth buying a DVD for. Children are the ultimate judge to these DVDs. And my son's favorites are "Yummy Yummy" and "The Dance Party", both he always sings and dances with, everyday. I am going to buy Toot Toot next based on some of the reviews. I hope it will turn out to be another favorite.