Little Kicks: Fitness Workout for Kids

Exuberant host Jesse Elder leads a group of eager youngsters through a variety of simple exercises designed especially for kids in Little Kicks: Fitness Workout for Kids, which features Tae-Bo-like moves and three simple rules: have fun, do your best, and work on improving every time. Combining Elder's P.E. teacher vigor with the enthusiasm of brightly-dressed kids of assorted ages, who tackle moves like "straddle stretch," "sword hand," "starburst," and "tiger claw," Little Kicks combats a low-budget feel with a pumped-up soundtrack, creative camera angles, and good onscreen graphics. Divided into three sections, the middle segment is more advanced than the others (a handful of older kids skillfully do the workout), but all segments stress the importance of self-motivation through mantra-yells such as "we got the attitude!", "bring it on!" and "we rock!" Despite a little too much banter at program's end (which put me in mind of Adam Sandler's words of wisdom in Billy Madison: "no more talky-talky"), this encouraging, affordable program offers a rewarding workout for tykes. Highly recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (J. Williams)