Sunday, August 3, 2014

Getting Our Girl Power On with Annedroids


 

Madison is a girly girl. She's purple. She's princess. She's ballerina. She's pretty clothes, pretty toys, pretty pictures all the way. She likes Barbie, she likes the Disney madness of fairies and princess paraphernalia, she likes all that grown up girl stuff like make-up and jewelry and Mommy's shoes. Somewhere between ages three and four, she became hardwired for this ultra girly stuff. Is it a phase? Maybe. Is it who she is? Possible. But right now, I know that I've got a girly girl.

But she's also very smart. And industrious. She has a ridiculous memory and an analytical mind. She likes tracking airplanes with Adam. She has recently become completely enamored with math. She loves puzzles. She loves to build things. She's got an amazing imagination and a mind that is wired for problem solving.

Rather than squashing her girly side to encourage the politically correct "smart" side, I love the idea of marrying these two. If a pink and purple Lego set makes her more apt to build, I'll take it. She recently got to try Goldie Blox for the first time. Sometimes Barbie is a red carpet girl, but sometimes she's a chef (remember, Madison's my cooking kid!). These things remind me that I don't have to squash that girly side to have a kid who feels smart and competent. She doesn't have to choose sides.

A new series debuted on Amazon Prime July 25th, and both Madison and I have been really interested in watching it. Annedroids features a female lead who is gifted in science, engineering, and robotics. Anne has invented and built both robots and androids (and is always quick to explain the difference!).



Annedroids was created by JJ Johnson. The talent behind the characters includes Addison Holley as ”Anne” and Adrianna Di Liello as her friend “Shania”.

I love Amazon Prime Instant Video.  Between my Kindle and our new Smart TV, I've been able to binge watch some great series.  You can watch on a variety of devices, and since we're a device friendly house, there's never a shortage of places to watch.

We were curled up on my bed to watch, but she scooted down to get a better view.

I was a little worried initially that I wouldn't have much to report from Madison's perspective. Madison is just four, and this series is aimed at kids 4-7. I knew she'd be on the young side. Plus, with the exception of the Food Network and the occasional SYTYCD viewing, she hasn't watched much that isn't animated. Would a live action series hold her attention? 

I turned it off after one episode so that Reagan could enjoy one of her shows, and Madison took over my Kindle to watch the next one.


 Turns out, when it's the right series, it will.

Annedroids, like all of Amazon’s children’s programs, is designed to develop creative thinking in children and has been tested to ensure they achieve this goal. Amazon’s goal is to inspire lifelong learners and provide children with the skills that will help them find personal and professional satisfaction in their future. Earlier this summer, Amazon Studios released two additional children’s series: a stop-motion animated series encouraging creative scientific discovery called Tumble Leaf and an interactive art adventure for preschoolers called Creative Galaxy.. Once we knew this, Madison needed to check out both of them on the Kindle. So far, Amazon Studios is doing great things in the line of kid's shows!

Another reason I really like Annedroids is that the show has wholesome, quality kids as the main characters. We've left the TV on certain channels once the morning preschool time is over, and I'm not hugely impressed with some of the shows intended for the "next level" of viewers. They aren't kids I necessarily want mine to emulate. When it comes to Annedroids, I'd be thrilled if Madison used Anne - or either of her friends - as a role model.



Will my girly girl become an engineer, a mathematician, or a scientist? Who knows? But Madison knows that anything is possible, and that androids and purple can both have a place in her life.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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