Kids Can Jump!

Rope. No, not the Hitchcock thriller, but the accessory kids use worldwide to skip, hop and jump their way to fun, cardiovascular fitness, and in the case of the Forbes Flyers girl team profiled here, national championships. Part how-to, part documentary, and all inspiration, Kids Can Jump! shows Sarah and her teammates demonstrating a variety of moves ranging from solo exercises to double dutch jumping for speed. Encouraging kids to plan, practice, and perform, Sarah and her friends admit that they all make mistakes but they credit a positive attitude and persistence for their success--assuring viewers that they can do the same. While a couple of sequences--notably descriptions of how to play bubblegum and scissors, rock, paper--seem out of place, and the organization of the material occasionally appears haphazard, the straightforward, natural enthusiasm (these kids aren't emoting for the camera) and positive energy displayed are enough to recommend this with minor reservations. Aud: E, I, P. (R. Pitman)