No Einstein

Don’t fall for the marketing ploys that baby DVDs like Baby Einstein and Brainy Baby will make your infant smarter, according to the findings of a fascinating new study from the University of Washington that will be published tomorrow in The Journal of Pediatrics. Here are some of the findings:
•The researchers studied more than 1000 children ages 2 to 24 months, and found that babies (8 to 16 months) who watched these DVDs/videos had significantly lower scores on a classic language test. For each hour a day of viewing, they had a reduction in their score that was equivalent to knowing 6 to 8 fewer words. Babies in the study whose parents read a book to them every day had an increased verbal score that was only half as big.
•Watching educational TV or DVDs (like Sesame Street or Blue’s Clues) had no negative impact on language for babies—and neither did watching non-educational shows or movies (including Sponge Bob and The Little Mermaid).
•For toddlers (17 to 24 months), watching any type of TV or DVD had no negative impact on verbal skills—and it only had a small benefit.
It’s not surprising to me that Baby Einstein and other baby videos don’t boost language: They contain very few words. Instead, they’re full of random images and abstract colorful patterns. In fact, say the researchers, they’re “designed with only an approximate sense of [a baby’s] developmental needs, based on no formal research.” Of course, if your baby only watches one occasionally, it probably won’t slow her speech, but it certainly won’t put her on the fast track to preschool.

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Comments

[ALIA]

My toddler is in love with Wiggles (stress from moving into new house is to blame). We did let her watch videos, but a half of them was like a auto flashcards. And she loves flashcards. She is VERY verbal for her age. (She says over 150-200 words - both in Russian and English, and also she does some baby signs. ) The videos with very few conversations give her a chance to do "point and name".

So, the bottom line is, it's very individual and greatly depends on the learning preferences of the child... I think.

[Ashley]

Although studies like this are nothing new, interactive shows, such as Blue’s Clues and Sesame Street, have had thousands of research studies over the years on their educational effectiveness. But when one study finds otherwise, it gets published in Time magazine!

Despite that, it scares me when kids under two years old watch a LOT of TV. When a one-year-old knows characters by name but can’t yet move away from the TV on his or her own … that’s not good. While preschoolers are able to decide for themselves if they want to watch a particular program, babies, on the other hand, can’t.

With the growing number of programs — and even networks — out there catering specifically to preschoolers and babies, a lot of content can slip through the cracks.

Thanks for pointing this out to your readers! It’s a good reminder for parent to analyze what (and at what age) their children are watching.

[Kelli]

MY neice watched the Baby Einstein movies all the time, per a crappy nanny. But shockingly my neice is 3 and is smarter than her 7 year old brother who didn't watch the movies when he was younger. At the montessori school she had to be moved to the top level, because she was bored in her AGE level class. (she also doesn't really even watch tv anymore) So I think some of these studies are pointless, and you really need to just do as you feel, and what you think. YOU ARE THE PARENT NOT THEM. Besides they are not always right. I let my 10 month old son watch the baby enstein movies twice a day and he is also very intellegent for his age compared to other children his age. People I meet are always amazed at the things he can do and say. You don't just let them watch them, you are suppose to interact with them while they are watching.