publication date: Jul 17, 2007
Numberjacks is the most
anticipated television
viewing in our house. There is something about the blend of
digital characters with the
live-action sequences and use of
real children that really catches a
two year-old's imagination and from conversations with my
five year old godson, Ciaran and his two year old
brother, Oliver the
love of Numberjacks is
widespread.
For parents with "
education" in mind while their children
watch television this programme teaches
number recognition, creates a real
interest in numbers and helps to develop
early maths skills. Each
programme has a mathematical
skill or
concept at its heart
chosen in accordance with
guidance given in the
Early Years Foundation Stage and
National Numeracy Framework. Toby can't watch the
opening sequence without joining in the
countdown.
For anyone new to the
Numberjacks they are ten small
superhero numbers
0 - 9 who live in a
blue sofa in an
ordinary home playing, relaxing and occasionally bickering, until they are
called into action by their
agents—real-life children.
Journeying out into the
real world, the numerical heroes
investigate problems and
foil the
dastardly plans of villains
The Puzzler, Spooky Spoon and the
Numbertaker.
Each Numberjack has a
personality appropriate to its
age. Toby is two and a half and thinks that the
baby of the bunch "
zero" is cute although his
main function is to make things
vanish by saying "zero". On the other hand,
number three "me, me, me" makes him
laugh with obvious
recognition of a
toddler-type streak!
From an
adult perspective the three
villains of the piece are quite
strange and the
comedy distinctly
physical and
slap-tick in style. The
Numbertaker wouldn't be out of place in an episode of
Dr Who and the
Puzzler is an odd
green blob. Toby has
made himself a
Spooky Spoon by sticking eye and mouth
stickers onto a
plastic spoon. It is without doubt Toby's
favourite and he finds her/him/it
hysterical.
This DVD
features six episodes -
Sphere Today, Gone Tomorrow, One More Time, Getting Heavy, Nine Lives, One Won, Best Estimate as well as special features about
3, the
Numbertaker, the
Brain Gain machine and a
sing-along with the Brain Gain song.
Bizarrely no associated Numberjacks
merchandise is available at the
moment although the addition of
number games and books would make the
programme an even better
learning tool.
If you would like to
buy a copy of this DVD from
Amazon please click the link below:
Numberjacks - Calling All Agents!
