the oh-no! DVD of the week: ‘Rodney Raccoon: Fun with Fitness!’

Adults dressed in furry costumes hanging around kids’ playgrounds? Nothing suspicious about that!

This fun, live-action educational fitness DVD was designed to pique the interest of young children while motivating them to learn nutrition and participate in physical activity. The video focuses on a workout that helps in the development of strong and healthy bodies by incorporating fun with Rodney Raccoon and exercises that will promote strength, coordination, and cardiovascular endurance. It also identifies the dangerous amounts of sugar found in junk food, a wide array of fruits and vegetables and stresses the importance of healthy food choices. Studies have shown that more than 75% of children 6 – 11 do not eat the minimum of 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit a day.

That’s from the official Rodney Raccoon site. And while Rodney Raccoon’s goals may be laudable, and while the cartoon version of Rodney is just fine, there’s something ultra creepy about the guy-in-a-suit version.