Some of the best conversations about life that I have had with my kids have come from a 30 minute session in front of the Tube.
As easy as it is sometimes to use the television as a babysitter to keep my kids from wrecking the house or asking me to hold them while I am molding a meatloaf with my bare hands, I occasionally will sit down and watch a program or 2 snuggled up next to their adorable little selves.
I do this for a few reasons…
#1 – It gives me a window into the kind of media that is available these days. There have been many-a-show that we have stopped watching or turned off because I took the time to watch the material that was being poured into my kids’ young and impressionable minds.
Just because it is in the ‘Kids’ section of Netflix doesn’t necessarily mean it is appropriate or helpful for a kid.
There was a particular show that my children liked to watch a lot and the main character was kind of a whiner. Because I had watched the show several times already with my boys I soon began recognizing that same character’s whining voice creeping into their little voices (1 Corinthians 15:33) and so I was able to quickly put an end to it.
#2 – TV shows are great starting points for discussions about behavior. Like most mamas, I want my children to develop a keen sense of discernment. I want them to be able to identify things like respect, obedience, kindness, responsibility, etc. So when a TV character looks at her mom and haughtily argues about going to bed, I’ll casually say, “Do you think she is respecting her mommy right now?” and then, “What would have been the better, obedient response?”
When we stopped watching that cartoon with the whiney kid, I didn’t just say, “You aren’t allowed to watch that anymore. It’s bad.” I watched it with them and said, “Do you hear how he is complaining? What does the Bible say about complaining?” (Philippians 2:14) Then I gently guided them to the understanding that exposing our hearts to stuff that doesn’t help us look more like Jesus is not the most productive use of time.
Which is why I like Veggie Tales so much (and which brings us to the purpose of today’s post!).
Veggie Tales is known for producing wholesome, funny, creative programs that help kids know God and His Word better, so when I received an email a few weeks ago asking if I might be interested in reviewing the latest Veggie Tales movie called Noah’s Ark (starring the voice of Wayne Brady – the Let’s Make a Deal show host and comedian from Who’s Line Is It Anyway?), my response went something like this:
“YES.”
The hubs grilled some salmon for us last night and we gathered around the coffee table in the living room to watch our new flick.
It did not disappoint.
Within the first 5 minutes of the show I already had the catchy opening number stuck in my head (still is as I type this 3 hours later – ha!) and the boys were completely captivated and full of giggles as the plot unfolded.
The story focuses on Noah’s son, Shem, who spends a good portion of the movie doubting his father’s faith to build a huge ark (equipped with water slides and air hockey tables on deck). As the rains come and the challenges mount (ie. animal poo – I mean, seriously, can you even imagine the smell?!), Shem’s eyes are opened to the importance of trusting God.
The best line in the show was when the skies first darkened, the wind began to blow, and the rain started to pour. Shem completely freaked out, but Noah quietly and confidently reminded him,
“This is what God prepared us for.”
I guess that is kind of like motherhood and life and my desire to watch TV with my kids.
As I sit with them and we discuss the things we see, I pray that those little seeds being planted will prepare them for whatever might come there way.
Hopefully my children’s futures won’t include a giant, angry squid (you’ll have to watch the show for yourself – wink!), but we faithfully and ceaselessly train and teach and help them discern the world around them so that they are ready, by God’s grace, to survive anything.
Like Noah.
And a bunch of funny vegetables.
Guess what?! I was given an EXTRA copy of the brand new Veggie Tales Noah’s Ark movie to share with one of my sweet readers!
Do YOU want to watch it with YOUR kids?
Simply leave a comment below and tell me why you want your family to enjoy Bob and Larry, a big boat that looks like an orange slice, a great soundtrack, and a message of God’s faithfulness.
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only (apologies to my wonderful international readers). The giveaway will end at 11:59 pm on Sunday, March 1 (EST). A winner will be selected shortly after – actually, I will be asleep then, so I will just email you sometime the next day :-).
– Julie
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” Matthew 6:22
*I was given this product at no cost in exchange for a review. All opinions are 100% mine.*
I would love to share some Godly brain food with my daughter. As a Christian momma, I have many the same conversations you do about putting good God-purposed stuff into us so we can pour out His goodness. Thanks! LoVe your blog!
Julie – This is my first time sending you a comment but I have been following you and your lovely family for about a year now. I love to watch TV (and movies) with my kids for many of the reasons you laid out. It gives me a window to what is “Developing” in their world – where their interests lie and how their little personalities are developing. My old 4 year son was starting to want to watch Transformers on NetFlix but I felt that it was too violent for his little age. However, when I asked him why he liked it so much he said it’s because he likes the good guys beating the bad guys and he likes the way they transform and do cool things. I was able to see what he was gravitating toward and channel that toward more age-appropriate material that would help him learn something (now I’ve got him watching Mighty Machines and he’s learning a lot).
We LOVE the Veggie Takes at our house and many of the songs my kids sing around the house are from our favorite Veggie Tales stories. And I cannot tell you how many times we use the lessons learned in those shows to remind our kids how God is with them and working in their lives (even when it may not seem like it at the time).
Thank you for being you and for challenging me to continue to intentionally pour the love of God into my little ones in a fun and intentional way.
Keep being you!
Jennifer Jacobs
I love VeggieTales! I watched it a lot with my neices and nephews a few years back. Now, my 2.5 year old has started really getting into movies and I want what she watches to reflect all of the things we are trying to teach her about God, and the world and how to be obedient and loving. She also loves animals!
I am so thankful I met the happy fairy when she was just a local powerhouse. Now she is blessing a whole web of homes! We would love a copy since 1) we don’t watch a lot of tv & 2) my middle child sings anything he is excited about to the Veggie Tales theme song. So fun!
We love veggie tales & we love the story of Noah! My girls (4 & 3) are so facinated with every single detail of the ark, the animals, and the smells…. I am positive they would LOVE this! Thank you!
I like to do the same as you except my daughter likes to watch the World News with me and we discuss that is happening in the world and how God is moving!
Such a cute movie! I will have to find it! And, I find that common sense media is a helpful resource to find the age appropriate-ness of the show/book/game/movie and have been using it for years, just to make sure I am not taking off guard while I am watching something with the littles! (we had a surprising experience with ET when my son was 8–I didn’t remember some of the stuff that was in it!) Now I try to be more prepared, especially if I know something will come up!
HA- failed on the assignment–I have 2 littler ones, and they would LOVE to meet Bob and Larry!
I’m always looking for decent kids shows that teach my children morals and values – and yes, we often watch together – but I’m not looking for the TV to teach my kids instead of me! But if they are gonna watch tv, I want it to be something that will complement our lifestyle, not necessarily challenge it! We’d love to win VeggieTales!
I would love to have something so relevant to share Gods word with my 3 small children. I am really encouraging healthy behaviors and lifestyle habits so this will fall right in place with that. Possibly as an incentive for a good day! Julie I love you and your blog, thanks for being a Mommy that honors God and loves His other Mommies 😉
I’d love to watch it with my grandchildren. I love your blog. You are a darling mommy!
I love veggietales. In fact I pulled out an old VHS “Dave and the Giant Pickle” last night at revival. I love how all the kids start singing the theme song! While my kids are grown…(my baby is 14!!!) I am the Director of Children’s Ministry and would watch this with my “other” kids. 🙂
We would LOVE this! My little one is obsessed with everything Noah or as he says “two by two.” And who doesn’t love a movie!
Hi Julie,
My kids LOVE VeggieTales even though my oldest is now 8. When he was 2 he would watch Madame Blueberry every , single, day! In fact his second birthday cake was Bob and Larry. Just recently we rediscovered our VeggieTales road trip CD and have been singing along as we drive around town. I agree with you that watching these with our children can be great conversation starters. And it’s great to know that the content that is going in to their brains is honoring to God! We would love to see Noah–thanks! Erica
I just found your blog a few days ago, and it has blessed me so much! I loved watching Veggie Tales when I was younger, and I would love for my kids to enjoy this video about Noah. 🙂
Ellen
Wow! So much to like about VeggieTales! Mostly they have a knack of presenting biblical truths that stick with kids. And that parents like too!
I really enjoy watching TV with my kids for a lot of the same reasons as you. I want to monitor what they are watching and just like you, have turned off some shows because of the words and way they talked to one another. I never thought about explaining to them why they cannot watch a show any longer like you had said. Next time that situation comes up, I’m going to take your advice and explain it to them in terms of Jesus. Thanks for your help!
What a precious post! I enjoy watching programs with my kiddos too!
As far As why I’d like to snag a copy of the New veggitales DVD… Of course we love veggitales! We have the Easter DVD and Christmas DVD and love watching those as often as possible. I love programs that plant Jesus seeds in my babies hearts. And also, my sanity could use a new DVD for my children to get hooked on. If I have to watch frozen one more time, I just might lose it! Haha!
I am like you. I worry about what my kids watch on tv. There is so much bad stuff out there. We also have Netflix but not everything on there is good. My kids are really into Veggie Tales! I love the values the show teaches and that it teaches about God and his love for them. We would love to see the new Noah’s Ark video! Thank you for sharing your amazing blog with us.
Amy
My email address is [email protected]
My daughters favorite show is actually mine growing up Full House. 🙂 I completely agree with you about sitting down with them and watching what they are.
My little one is 4 and has started having more and more questions about salvation. The other night while saying her night time prayer – she even told Jesus “Please knock on my heart Jesus! Knock on my heart! Please come on, knock on it! :)”
I love seeing Jesus through my daughters eyes. 🙂
We love Veggie Tales at the Tolley house! I would love to have the new Noah’s Ark movie for my own kids to watch, but also, as the Children’s Director at my church, I would also share the video for other children to enjoy as well! Thanks so much for your great posts/website!! Very encouraging, you always seem to post what I need to read at just the right times!!
Is the Whiney cartoon character Daniel Tiger? I have 4 granddaughters and couldn’t help but laugh when my 2 yr old told me she was feeling anxious and nervous one day. Her Mom said it came from Daniel. Love your blog.
Hi Julie. We love Veggie Tales. As my 7 year old girl matures I worry so much about what she sees and hears. Veggie Tales offers a great message while entertaining my children. Thank you for sharing! Jen
I have never seen Veggie Tales. But I am trying so hard to raise my two year old to become a Man of God. I would love having a video help me in that process!! (Because sometimes when we read the scriptures as a family, it turns into a “I’m too tired” and tantrum on the floor.)
Who doesn’t love the story of Noah?! We haven’t watched a Veggie Tales in forever, but I still catch them singing selections from Silly Songs with Larry! And like you folks, we have some great conversations about life from watching TV or movies.
Oooo! Pick me!! We don’t have tv service, only dvds, and we love Veggie Tales! My son has a significant speech delay; at 4.5 years he has a very limited vocabulary and is only using up to 4 words together. (He has made HUGE strides this last 6 months since we’ve started praying specifically for his release from this and laying hands on his neck/throat, Praise God!!) Anyways most people would tell me to keep him away from the tube and we do limit it. However, he learns so well visually! It doesn’t matter how many times I tell him letters or numbers, he doesn’t catch on, but he can watch a program and have it memorized. I think it is probably a combo of the two, but I believe educational dvds have been so helpful. As a Christian I hope that we get the same effect from Veggie Tales and other Christian programs. I believe it may be part if the reason he is such a wonderful, kind big brother. Jake has struggles that can make him really frustrated (it is difficult to not be able to communicate), but he is the best big brother I’ve ever seen. He actually crys when he sees little brother upset, and usually just walks away from confrontation rather than fighting. Maybe I’m just blessed, which is true 🙂 but maybe the positive messages he sees in the programming he watches are making a difference just like they help me teach him the alphabet, colors, numbers, etc. No matter the case, I believe Jake would love to add this move to his Veggie collection and really deserves it!
Thanks for considering us and for your blog. It has been exactly what I needed to hear more than once. I’ll continue to love it even if we don’t win 😉
I am a VeggieTales nut!! I’ve been watching them since they first came out!! My 2 year old daughter looks at me like I’m crazy when I sing the theme song, which of course makes me want to do it more! 😉 My husband and I are trying our best to teach her to love God and we love to watch TV with her…she doesn’t always like it though. Thanks for your blog! It usually brings a smile to my face! =)
God bless you and your family! ?
I adore everytime I open my email and see a post from you. I know somehow it’s going to touch my heart. It seems that whatever Is happening in my life there is always some part of the bible verse you have that hits the nail on the head. I just read the post about the Noah’s ark veggie tales and thought about how much my 6 & 3 year old both adore them. We’ve been watching out DVDs while we run around town lately. It’s been awesome because there is always some question they have an it’s nice to be able to pause and talk about it. So thank you again for reminding me of the joy tv can bring and how it can be good. You always touch my heart with Gods powerful words. Thank you
My son loves it when we snuggle up and watch a TV show or movie together, and while we disagree on most shows, we do both enjoy Veggie Tales. I love that its appropriate content for any age, that I can turn it on without worrying that he’s gonna pick up on something that he shouldn’t and that each video reinforces character qualities and Godly traits that we teach and encourage at home. He loves them because they are goofy and silly and fun. We would love to add the story of Noah’s Ark to our collection for a special Friday Night Date after the baby goes to sleep–popcorn, hot cocoa, snuggles and a movie!
As a working mom, the time spent with my little boy is limited during the week. During the weekend, it is hard not to get wrapped up in trying to get everything that you didn’t have time to do during the week done. Veggie Tales would be the perfect thing to do/watch as a family because not only would it allow us to have family cuddle time, but it would also be a great opportunity to learn great lessons about our Heavenly Father and his goodness.
At first, I would just like to say how much I love your blog and how much it has helped me in my journey of being a first time mom! My daughter is now turning 1 in a few weeks, so this movie would be a great first birthday gift for her. It will also be her first introduction to Veggie Tales, which makes it even better and would be a great family activity to enjoy together. Thank you so much for the hope and inspiration you give to your readers every day!
Hi Julie,
I would love to win this movie. I had my eye on it when I got an email about it this week from my local Christian book store. I run a home daycare business founded in Christ and getting biblical principals into my little extended family is very important to me!! Thank you for the opportunity and God bless. 🙂
I would love to win this movie! Our almost-two-and-a-half-year-old son has recently become quite interested in Veggie Tales, and this would be such a blessing as a way to continue to pour God’s Truth into his life! 🙂 Thank you for all you do, Happy Home Fairy!
My granddaughter loves the
veggie tale movies.
I would love to have this for her.
I would love to with movie. We have two young kiddos…Lily is 4 and Isaac is 2. Lily really enjoys veggie tales. Love your article about watching TV with the kids. Lily has picked up on behaviors within shows and we’ve had great discussions! Thanks for all you do!
We have four children ages four and under and they love veggietales!
Please tell me the whiney kid is Caillou – seriously….. that kid drove me nuts everytime the program would come on – to the point where I don’t allow my son to watch it anymore.
Julie…thank you for your insight on today’s entertainment choices for our children. I also agree that not everything on Netflix for kids is wholesome. My four year old watches a lot of PBS shows with great messages that have helped direct positive behavior (sometimes…lol). I used to watch Veggie Tales with my oldest son and I absolutely love the messages portrayed in these shows. They truly instill a positive Christian attitude in our small little viewers…which is greatly needed in many households. Perhaps my four year old can grasp the message and spread Christ’s love amongst his peers. Thanks Julie!
The Veggies are fabulous!!! Have loved them for over 20 years and now my pumpkin loves them. We watch, we sing, we laugh and God teaches. This movie is gonna be her Easter gift. Thanks for being real and really great!!
I would love it because I’m tired of hearing the same one play over and over in the car ?. My last two babies Bekah and Sammy are loving Veggie Tales right now. I know this video by heart not only because all my previous children happen to love this particular story but because it’s the only one that has survived in my car cause it hasn’t been taken out of the DVD player for weeks literally. Would love to hear a new story ?
We are huge fans of Veggie Tales and the truth they instill into our children. We would love to add this movie to our collection!
A boat of any kind with a veggie tales movie would be awesome, the grownups are already the pirates who don’t do anything, so this would be SOMETHING fun to share with the kids!!!
Hi! Thanks for sharing your extra copy! I would love to be able to watch this with my little girl. She is 15 months and just starting to get into watching TV. She love Sesame Street and I would love to introduce her to Veggie Tales! I agree that watching TV with your children is the best way to get a view into the world presented to them and for some quality snuggle time!
i would love to introduce my daughter to veggie tales!
We are HUGE veggietales fans, and I would love to share this with my 3 foster kids.
Hi Amanda! You are the winner! I will be sending you an email! Congratulations!
LOVE this post and LOVE Veggie Tales!!
We LOVE the Veggie Tales. I love the fact it helps them relate to the BIBLE. The lessons they learn from Veggie tales stick. I can tell them the same thing and they don’t understand. With watching it, they understand and it comes easy for them. I like that this story does not come from Noah who already is doing GOD’S work but from his son. Trusting GOD is what I pray my children will do. I even struggle with it, which is why I really want my children to depend upon trusting GOD.
My 9 year old daughter,& 5 and 1 year old sons love Veggie Tales! and honestly I do too =) Thank you so much for helping me figure out a correct way to approach shows that may have things that aren’t in line with our beliefs…. I needed to be reminded that instead of saying “because this is bad” I can turn those moments into teachable moments.
Your post could not have come at a better time. GOD is Good!!! All the time!
I would so love to sit down with my son to watch this with him. Recently he has been wanting to watch other TV shows that his friends at (a Christian) school watch. He complains “All my friends get to watch (so and so) and they go to my school why can’t I.” Just yesterday he said this again and I explained to him that God has called him to be mindful of what he puts before his eyes. He loves Veggie Tales and I would so love to have this for him. ~ Thank you! Have a blessed day!
I would love to have this for my grandkids. I know they will love it. They are growing up without going to church. I love to share things like this with them.
I agree with you completely, Julie. We are not anti-television at our house, by any means, but we do try to be very careful about the types of programs that are viewed in our home. All five of our children adore Veggie Tales, from the 22-month-old up to the 12-year-old! They would absolutely LOVE to have a copy of the Veggie Tales Noah’s Ark movie! Thanks for doing this giveaway!
Thank you so much Julie for the opportunity to look at a Christian Mom’s perspective on so many topics. Our kids always look for an opportunity to make a family night as we snuggle to watch a flick. They love Bob and Larry as they teach in a fun, light hearted yet impacting way the truth of who God is. A big boat that looks like an orange slice is very creative and should give us ideas to make our own arks at home lol. About their soundtracks I remember we once had veggietales toothbrushes which played their catchy soundtracks to keep them humming while brushing their teeth. We had heard some songs we didnt know but were already singing them along once we saw it on tv. The message on God’s faithfulness with be both a discussion topic and a nugget that they can keep with them for years to come as life can present itself to be unfair or not what was planned. Very excited to hear the stories this will bring as we can share this message to other children as well.
Always looking for wholesome things to watch with my 2 kids under 5. I love it when it not only entertains but teaches important lessons. And then I can also show it to the kids at my church!! We would love to win a copy!
My little guy is 19 months and really starting to notice TV. I would love to have this so he can fall in love with veggie tales and start to hear about Gods love and the gospel!!
Ok, confession, I my kids don’t really watch Veggie Tales anymore (makes me sad) but I am saving them for future grandchildren. I just know that someday I will have them. I love VeggieTales and used to use my children as an excuse to watch them, looking forward to watching them with grandchildren. In the mean time I use them in our children’s ministry. (I still get to watch them a little bit. I know sneaky)
I love when my kids love Veggietales. My daughter always asks to get a Barbie movie from the library and I always say no (I know, mean mommy lol!) but I try to find a princess Veggietales movie like Sweetpea Beauty . . . because the reality is, yes, they are so impressionable! I noticed the same as you said in your post, that some of the whiney characters or girls with bad attitudes influence my daughter especially so I have to be super careful and know what she’s watching especially. So all that to say, yes yes yes to your post. I love when my kids ask me to watch with them and it’s something fun like Veggietales–win win!
I would love to add this VeggieTales to our now slim collection of movies. My husband and I have been physically and spiritually purging our home and hearts due to this thing called conviction, ha!…not always easy, but so necessary in this world seeping with subtle messages contrary to God’s truth. So, we just tossed away a bunch of DVDs…the cute once seemingly harmless chick flicks and even many of the Disney classics because well, there is too much evil in the good versus evil. Not something we are willing to let our 20 month old become desensitized to…and something we want to become more sensitive to as adults. Grateful for wholesome Christian productions like VeggieTales that is a beacon of light to young and old alike!
I’m a (relatively young) grandma of three who loves “The Happy Home Fairy”! They are coming to visit next weekend and I would love to watch “Noah’s Ark” with them! My own daughter’s watched Veggie Tales when they were younger and still love them, actually 🙂
It would be so cool to win this giveaway and enjoy it with our little gifts from God. Thanks for what you do, Julie!
Susy B.
Both my girls LOVE Veggie Tales and would love to see the new Noah’s Ark one!
Oh my daughter would love this movie, she loves Noah’s Ark AND Veggie Tales. Thank you for the chance! Blessings.
I love my kids watching things I don’t have to “worry” about!!
I SO agree! We, too, love Veggie Tales in our household. We recently watched Jonah and fell into a tizzy of giggles as well. We’d love to try out the new Noah’s Ark episode!
We have seen so many off the classics and I think my 3 and 5 year old would love too check out the new one 🙂
Another wonderful post Julie. Thank you. After reading some replies from your other readers above, I have already picked who I would choose to win the DVD – not exactly sure how you choose, and not an easy task either. I am praying for the moms/ grand mom’s above. This will be a blessing to anyone. I, like Liz mentioned above, recently watched Beauty and the Beet, the same way. It was such a great movie 🙂 I will get that one and also check out some more including the Noah’s Ark for my precious, soon to be 2-year old. Love and blessing to you all.
I know if we are watching Veggie Tales there will be a positive, moral lesson… and nothing questionable (which is so hard to find these days!). AND there is usually something funny that only the grown-ups will get, so it is not as mind numbing as some kid shows 😉
I want to watch this with my son so that even at 7 months he can start to learn about God’s grace and mercy. We love VeggieTales and have just a couple at our house that we have started to play for joel! Love your blog!
With the abundance of cold, snow days my kids have wanted to watch more movies. I have had to turn off 3 of 3 in the past 2 days due to adult content. (And these were kids movies!) An important reminder to screen shows beforehand & to regulate what your babies watch. “Be careful little eyes what you see…” Movies like VeggieTales that have a Christ-centered message are few and far between.
My kids LOVE the Veggie Tales. My five year old walks around places in public singing the “I love my lips” song over and over. ‘….she had a beard….and it felt weird…” LOL. Very sweet of you to give out an extra copy.
We love Veggie Tales and would love for those little vegetables to pour God’s love into our kiddos through the story of Noah’s big orange slice!! 🙂
I would really like this for my 3 year old son! He mind is so absorbent to things now, I would really like him to watch fun kid shows with Gods message. Hope would love it!
My 8 year old loves veggie tales on Netflix! I am hoping that my almost 3 year old will start to love it also.
Veggie Tales is something we all can agree on at our house! Between the catchy songs, message, vibrant colors and laughs there’s something for everyone!
I’d love to expose my child to more God centered television entertainment:)
Enjoyed reading your review of the new Veggie Tales. Unfortunately, I didn’t get this newsletter till Wed, Mar 4th, so I missed out on the giveaway. 🙁 My kids love V.T. because my hubby & I collected these and enjoyed ’em long before we had kids. My youngest would watch Sweet Pea Beauty everyday, many times a day if we let her. My favorite is Beauty & the Beet and we have borrowed that one numerous times from the library including the soundtrack. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for the Noah’s Ark at the library.
I love the application of using the shows your children love to watch as a way for them to understand gospel principles. It will help them so much to be able to use what they know and connect it to an experience. I have found it true in my experiences as well that not all kid shows are appropriate. Thank you for sharing your way of helping to teach your children!