Baby Einstein DVDs "hinder language development"

by Jonathon Morgan (Subscribe to Jonathon Morgan's posts)
Aug 8th 2007 1:31PM

In order to help their infants learns, many parents turn to DVDs and videos, such as the popular Baby Einstein series. However, a recent study finds that not only are these videos ineffective in helping children learn, they might actually be harmful to their language development.

And the more they watch, the worse it gets. Researchers found that for every hour a baby watched of these "educational" DVDs and videos, they understand 6 to 8 fewer words than those infants who weren't exposed to Baby Einstein, or other similar material.

While the study doesn't prove conclusively that the videos are harmful, it does show that they're not helping your baby learn. Experts say this is a reminder that a child's parents are far more engaging, stimulating and helpful teachers than any attention-grabbing DVD.

I have to agree. We tried a few of the Baby Einstein videos when my daughter was younger, and -- while she's turned out just fine -- it always made me uncomfortable that she'd stare off into the TV like a zombie whenever the DVDs were playing. We eventually stopped letting her watch them, figuring there was no way that could actually be good for her.

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Comments (6)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kelly Jadon 8-09-2007 @ 9:51AM

Back in the '80s I was studying to be a teacher. Part of the program was to research the effects of television on children. Even then, we knew of its negative results. Needless to say, I am not surprised!

TK101 8-08-2007 @ 2:57PM

I don't agree - my 6 year old loved them (they were fairly new when he was a baby), and was recently tested as reading on a 5th grade level. He's also been reading since he was 2 (and a half). Granted, my wife is a teacher (and a reading specialist at that), but he watched these quite often. Wouldn't he be affected somehow?

My 3 year old watched them, too, although not as much. And guess what? He's starting to read as well.

TK

Mitch 8-09-2007 @ 2:02AM

@1

How do you know he wasn't affected? He might have been able to read at a 6th or 7th grade level if he hadn't watched the movies. Granted, your son has apparently turned out perfectly well, but that's still absolutely no reason to say there was not possibly a negative effect. It doesn't follow.

Tim 8-10-2007 @ 9:32AM

I think we're all missing the big picture. Is it specifically the Baby Einstein videos that's causing children to be a little slower, or is it just the fact that the children are watching the TV for too long? Would you rather your kid watch some garbage like SpongeBob for an hour everyday?

And these videos are intended to be watched together with an adult, which is exactly what we do. My wife and I point things out, ask for identification, dance, clap, etc. Every day we have dinner together, we read together, and we interact with each other. These are the important things. Don't freak out over some videos, unless you're one of the neglectful parents who feels the need to plop their kids in front of them for hours everyday.

Oh, and by the way, I'm a teacher too.

speechandteach.com 9-12-2007 @ 7:41PM

I couldn't agree with this article more! I don't think any child under the age of 15 months or so should be planted in front of a television screen!

Ryan Lee 10-25-2007 @ 5:29PM

I think if used as an instructional tool where you watch with your child, it gives you an opportunity to interact and educate them on things around them. We also used the books to complement. Perhaps this study doesn't take into effect the way in which the tool was used.

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