Is your baby a Genius?
We have all known this is just entertainment – setting the record straight on Baby Einstein http://bit.ly/yQYjD
That was the headline on Twitter today that got the most attention.
At issue is the video series “Baby Einstein”. I am going to quote from the company because so much of the controversy today stems from misunderstanding.
Baby Einstein products are designed to provide parents with tools that promote interaction and also expose their little ones to the world around them in playful and enriching ways. What started as a “digital board book” has become a broad array of products for infants and their parents.
Baby Einstein has built its reputation on creating developmentally and age appropriate content that parents know they can trust.
This is of course, the product description as of September 2009. When the DVDs first came out they did make some claims that this product would help your childs mental development in one way or another.
The science behind it demonstrates that children under the age of 2 are really better off not watching TV at all.
Now, Disney, who purchased the Baby Einstein company in 2001, is offering a refund to anyone who bought the product between June 5, 2004, and Sept. 4, 2009.
The articles on everything that led up to this refund can be found all over the Internet today and it is really quite remarkable. Some articles are quite reasonable while others are downright irate at the “scam” that was pulled off on the gullible mothers of America.
We agree that the new description of the products and their purpose is improved over unsubstantiated but well meaning claims of brain development. At the same time as Moms we know instinctively that it would be better for a two year old to avoid TV. We know it is better for our kids to eat their vegetables. It is better if we make sure they stay to a strict sleep schedule. Ok ok – we got it.
But if you have just spent a sleepless night and this one little delightful video will calm your child down enough to give us a moment to hop in the shower without having to endure the shrieks and screams of a fussy newborn – I’m going to say “press play”. Is that wrong?
We need a balance. We know intellectually what we need to do to help provide our children with everything they need – that is to sit down with them on the floor and play with them. And that doesn’t cost a thing. But a nice warm shower is really a good good thing every now and then too.
I can appreciate those who want to defend children and prevent them from being over media-ized but at the same time I appreciate the playfulness of the Disney Baby Einstein DVDs.
Is it too late for me to get a refund on all those Barney the purple Dinosaur VHS tapes in my basement?
Tags: baby einstein, child development, DVDs, parenting