16 months is pretty young for any movie longer then about 3 minutes. Something like Sesame Street (PBS television) may hold the child's attention better because segments are short.

Linked is a site that suggests age appropriate movies.

Here is a link that might be useful: Common sense media

There are a few winnie the poohs. They are all good. A christmas one, an Easter one, a heffalump one.

I would look up G movies, especailly from Disney or Pixar, and rent them from amazon to look at before buying if I was concerned. (I know it is nuts, but I dont like some of the stories - like Lion King, for the kids!)

You might look at a few shows. I agree with the above, I have one son that liked movies and one that still doesnt at almost 3.

He likes a few shows like: Umizumi and Little Einstiens (those are his favs and will watch over and over and over and over and over. :p )

The Wonderpets, BackYardigans, Octonauts, Dora, Diego are good too. Timmytime is nice too.

At that age and older my kids (now adults) loved the Disney Sing Along Songs videos. They were entertained, sang along (or tried to) and danced to the music{{gwi:807}}. I still remember them walking like elephants around the living room to a Jungle Book{{gwi:807}} song.

Edit- I was just checking the reviews of the Lion King one, and it also has separate tracks with the songs in Spanish and French.

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Here is a link that might be useful: Disney Sing Along Songs on Amazon

This post was edited by terriks on Fri, Feb 6, 15 at 12:47

My grandson loved Classical Baby videos. They are animations to classical music. The Music one, especially, but also the Poetry one. Not so much the Dance or the Art, but I may try the Art now that he's older.

My son also loved the Disney Sing a Longs. Except for the Siamese cat song from Lady and the Tramp. We had to skip that one, this was back in the days of VHS (he is 21 now!) so we had to learn just how long to hold down the Fast Forward button lol!

oh I forgot about Fantasia (new and old) . My kids like that too.

I still like Classical Baby too :) My kids did like Baby einstein, but I just did not get it.

Yes! "Sesame Street"!

My son LOVED Little Bear TV shows and there is a movie I think called "Little Bear The Movie". I think it would be on the same wavelength of Winnie the Pooh.

Maddieee - hmmm....are you sure about that re: attention span for her age? She's 16 months, not 6! That doesn't seem right, as GD will sit in rapt attention to all 74 minutes of Winnie the Pooh, and has since before 12 months. Loves books, building with blocks, can identify and locate dozens of her wooden animals by name, correctly find them by name when hidden, etc.,, and can spend easily a half hour or much more on each of these kinds of activities, so her mom will want full-length movies. Boopadaboo -Great! I will look into those other Winnie the Pooh titles - didn't know of them. Hopefully they are made in the same "old fashioned" feeling format. Would also like to find something totally different!. I'll research some of the others, like Timmytime that we haven't heard of. Just checked that one out - O no! that is just like what she doesn't want, but I'm at a loss to describe why!!!!!
I should have said so far DD is not a fan of ANY Disney or Disney-type movies, except for Winnie TP or hopefully some similar type she doesn't yet know about. Terriks, I'll check out the sing-a-longs.
There MUST be more choices out there - even if really old!!! Bambi- thumper type if my memory is right, but never with traumatic/scary parts. LOL: the nightmare dancing pots and elephants in WTP are about as far as she wants to go- so we may have to pass on the Heffalump! Thanks, all, hoping others may add more ideas.

Not a movie but I highly recommend the Peep and the Big Wide World DVDs. And when my kids were around 2 they looooved the Backyardigans.

The Land Before Time series. Those bring back fond memories for me. My nieces loved them and although I had a hefty stash of the series their favorites were videos I-III. And it's in old-fashioned cartoon format and isn't Disney if your DD doesn't care for that.

This post was edited by moonshadow on Fri, Feb 6, 15 at 15:50

My girls loved Madeline...both the books and the movies/shows (the cartoon, not the movie with real people).

http://www.amazon.com/Madeline-Bonjour-The-Original-Specials/dp/B00EI3YG82/ref=pd_cp_mov_0

I don't really remember at that age what they were watching...I think mostly PBS shows rather than movies such as Clifford, Sesame Street and Angelina Ballerina to name a few. Wait, I just looked at the list of PBS shows to jog my memory. Word World was great for learning letters and later, words. Dragon Tales, The Berenstain Bears, Zaboomafoo were also favorites but maybe more when they were preschoolers than toddlers. Curious George episodes (we also had a great set of books) were also a big hit.

I am going to look some of these up too! We also love Daniel Tiger ( Remake of Mr Rogers)

Curious George!! The PBS series, and the animated movie. It's so cute. My son, and nephews, absolutely loved it. I actually didn't mind it either :-)

Okay, this will sound crazy, but my girls were nuts for Flower Drum Song from about six months old. Obviously, the story is completely inappropriate for children, but they both loved that movie and wanted to watch it every night.

My friend's children all loved Baby Einstein. They would watch that with rapt attention when nothing else would make them happy.

It is far too young for any media.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nothing at all, yet

There were three responses when I answered before - it took me a while to compose, and then had to leave directly after - LOL it gives the appearance that I deliberately ignored olychick, bpathome, tibbrex, and olliesmom! Thanks also oaktown, moonshadow! and fourkids!
Fantasia - that might be perfect!!! Not familiar with Little bear the movie or classical baby, Peep and the big wide world, the land before time, Daniel tiger, Madeline, curious george, =[[etc. -will research these - thanks so much! Even though I'm a PBS fan and my kids loved Sesame Street, right now SS is not a good fit - maybe because she's learning constantly - knows some colors and numbers, matches words and pictures, etc. already, GD's mom just wants some fun, interesting and like I said simple and gentle content for her to watch on occassion, and also doesn't want to encourage the need for the fast pace/need for constant stimulation. I'm going to be saving everyone's suggestions for future reference - including the one's like what fourkids suggested for when she is older. Thanks guys, SO much - please keep the ideas coming - I'm sure this could be a good reference for others, too!

Fantasia scared my kids, and they were much older when they saw it.

Agree that Fantasia is not for wee ones. Some of the segments might be okay, but much is not.

To be honest, I would not really be looking to show movies to toddlers at all. He needs to be exploring and taking walks, playing outside, playing with blocks, etc. when he is 3-5, I would start with Sesame Street and my favorite of all time, Mr Rogers. No computer games either. ☺️

I'm in the less is better tv camp, but WORD WORLD! I think it's genius. I'd stick with PBS learning shows. We also love Daniel Tiger and Super Why. Sesame Street was way better than I was a kid. There are certain characters they hardly show anymore, but Oscar still makes the cut? Oscar - the grouch - and his horrible, miserable attitude? Sadly, that's not only thing I think could improve.
LeapFrog - Letter Factory is another favorite here.

Off topic side note - I commented to a movie thread quite a while back and I bashed the movie Cars saying there was cursing and how inappropriate and ridiculous yadda ya. .........I had the wrong movie.

Here is a link that might be useful: Word World

Thanks texanjana and cyn re: Fantasia - I won't waste time checking fantasia right now if there are ANY scary parts! But kitcshy and cyn, perhaps you didn't read my posts? I pointed out already that she spends a LOT of time playing with blocks, reading books, etc. Parents don't watch much tv, don't play computer games, are not on social media, or on their phones. (not that parent's who do are not good parents)... They eat all organic food, the baby's clothing etc. is almost all organic, she has no plastic toys....they are heavily invested in her care and upbringing. On occasion she will watch a movie. This is a special treat, not an every day occurrence. It would be nice to have a few choices besides only the same Winnie the Pooh one! I sure don't disagree about concerns over tv/media, but I do not agree completely with the information provided in kitschy's link about brain development and wonder about what scientific information it is based: "Infants may stare at the bright colors and motion on a screen, but their brains are incapable of making sense or meaning out of all those bizarre pictures. It takes 2 full years for a baby’s brain to develop to the point where the symbols on a screen come to represent their equivalents in the real world."
Two weeks ago when GD turned 16 months I brought my laptop when babysitting, and brought it out for an experiment before bedtime - she never sees a computer at home, and was fascinated by the nature photos I googled of animals - about 18 in total. About 35 of her wooden animal were in a nearby pile on the floor. For each actual photograph that came up she recognized the animal, tried to say the name ("fling, ork, brr, moo, ba", etc. = flamingo, orca, bear, moose, bat), then she would run to her pile, locate the corresponding wooden toy, and bring it to me. She did this 18 times. I said nothing except "What's that?" and "Yes!!, that's a----". She clearly was connecting the "symbols on the screen"...with "their equivalents in the real world". Quite frankly, the wooden toys only somewhat resemble the actual photos, but she still got them all right.
This is getting long, but....I've tried to analyze the appeal of the WTP movie for DD and me and why Sesame Street, right now, does not appeal, and I believe it has something to do with the simplicity of not only the plot and action, but also the renderings, which allow a little one's brain time to identify, explore, and make meaning rather than the rapid pace of SS and a lot of kid's movies which seem unnecessarily overstimulating and seem to promote poor attention span by design.

I agree with no tv until at least age two. And yes, there is a profound difference between three dimensional objects and a two dimensional picture.

This post was edited by kswl on Sat, Feb 7, 15 at 0:14

My kids all could sit forever watching/listening to a couple of Raffi, in-concert videos. He has such a gentle, engaging way with his young audience - something different from your movie fare. Google Raffi and Baby Beluga, and you can get a taste of him on YouTube. Enjoy!

Haha...couldn't resist and had to watch just one more time. I hadn't seen that in about 17 years...man, what sweet memories!

This post was edited by javiwa on Fri, Feb 6, 15 at 23:58

I bought all the Raffi DVD's for my grandson (the one who loves Classical Baby mentioned above). They are available on Amazon and he was mesmerized by them. Raffi still TOURS!! We took my grandson when he was 3 to a concert in Seattle, just 2 years ago! He was screen free until he was 2 and then had limited access (still does, no TV service in our homes) but when he started watching Raffi, he wanted to play my guitar...he still holds the guitar and ukelele backwards because he saw Raffi as a mirror image and wanted to play like Raffi.

I took him to the library today and happened to notice the Classical Baby DVD on the shelf (the music one). Please check it out; it's really wonderful and the music is beautiful.

Why not go to a great children's book store and find some wonderful BOOKS!! There are a million choices. Parent/child book reading from birth on is always recommended. TV watching, movie or other wise is so not!!! If really stuck get the audio books. If said baby is truly sitting for hours of doing NOTHING--chances are they will turn their own pages.

I would also turn on the Arts channel, with ballet, etc. I knew a 2 year old who LOVED…ready? "Lawrence Welk". She LOVED it! "Bobby and Sissy! Bobby and Sissy!" and she'd clap. The arts appeal to the senses…sight, sound, movement…I think they're great for a 16 month old.

There's a very nice dvd with The Snowman, based on the book of the same name by Raymond Briggs. No dialogue, but lovely music. The basic plot is that a little boy makes a snowman, who comes alive at night when the boy invites him into the house. They try out his dad's clothes, take a ride on a motorbike and visit Santa at the North Pole (although it is not really a Christmas movie.)

My nephew watched that dvd every night before bed for years. The music is calm and soothing, the story is enjoyable, there's just enough fantasy for the kids.

The Snowman! I forgot that story. I loved that book and movie.

Oh I love 'The Snowman'! The music is ethereally beautiful. & there's another by Briggs about Santa Claus, but I can't recall the name. 'The Red Balloon' is another wonderful film w/ no dialogue & there is also a picture book made from stills from the film. I believe both are on Netflix & Hulu.

For a very young child, I agree about the Disney Sing-Along collections - I think I have all of them on VHS (we have 2 combo DVD/VHS players). My son also watched the Richard Scarry videos @ around that age & I have a number of those on VHS for the grandkids.

& Mr.Rogers is the greatest - along w/ the classic Sesame Street from the 70s/80s - Hulu has tons of clips(classic song, animation & Muppet segments) - so enjoyable for all ages.

Do people really believe the child has been living in a vacuum with no books or art or free play or music or movement?

I don't think that, as it is in direct contradiction to the OP's comments. However, the research is clear that time spent watching a flat screen, regardless of content, is time lost in a child

Agree with the Disney Sing A Longs.

I used to have home daycare, and those were big favorites.

As I recall, they had the lyrics at the bottom, so did reinforce early reading skills as

It is long, but Mary Poppins is also an excellent film with enjoyable songs and nothing scary.

And agree also with Madeline, Very cute.

And do they still have the books that "beep" when you turn the page with the cassette tapes? Those also were big favorites.

Sweet, slow paced, & educational...These are well loved at our house:

So Smart, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Stories, Little Einsteins

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Here is a link that might be useful: So Smart

Oh!!! No movies...too much.. I HIGHLY recommend these videos. Mine loved them from age two and up. They are all about 30 minutes and filled with humor, wisdom and kindness.. We'd watch them over and over together. Little ones love repetition. I adored them. You will need to order most of them:
I PROMISE you, these are exactly perfect for 2-5!
Little bear
Busy town and other Richard Scary stories
Franklin