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May 2011 Moms
Little Einstein Language Nursery
I am not really sure what my child is getting out of this video at 3 months old but, SHE FREAKING LOVES IT! She has been watching it and giggling all afternoon. It is in different languages so I am not even sure what they are saying most of the time except for English, Spanish and Japanese. I think it's alphabets and nursery rhymes. Anyway, like I said, I am not sure if she is learning anything but she is clearly enjoying it and talking to the t.v like crazy and I am sitting here singing the nursery rhymes that I know (and making up words that I don't.)
Anyone know of similar videos? I do have a sign language video on the way that we are going to start watching.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Little Einstein Language Nursery
I'll complete my degree in Child Development in May, and we studied lots of research that shows that videos intended to teach infants and toddlers vocabulary is actually harmful to their language development. The AAP recommends no TV before 2.
Having said that though, infants have the ability to differentiate between sounds in all languages up until they're several months old, when they begin to only recognize sounds of their own language. It's best to introduce languages you would like your child to speak in the first year. A video just isn't the way to teach it.
BFP #1 9/7/10, EDD 5/14/11, Violet born 5/27/11.
BFP #2 4/9/12, EDD 12/16/12, M/C Rory 4/24/12.
BFP #3 10/6/12, EDD 6/16/12., Matilda born 6/17/13.
Why? is it all videos in general? I tried not to let DS watch TV but sometimes I'm watching and he turns his head looking for it. I showed him a Baby Einstein Little Bach and he could not care less, also, I am bilingual and intend to raise him bilingual does it matter if I speak to him in both or should speak to him only in Spanish since eventually he'll pick up English? Thanks!
My Blog: Naturally Mindful
Harvard studies have suggested that there is no harm or benefit to watching television. They do suggest that playing with puzzles or shape shifters, basically any kind of hands on activity is more beneficial to cognitive development. Researchers are concerned that viewing television at high levels(and starting in infancy) can lead to obesity, problems sleeping, etc. I think as long as you are an active participant and not using it as a babysitter then you shouldn't have problems.
I'm not sure that the effects would begin this early, since the studies are mostly examining children who are at an age when they could speak, but I definitely wouldn't stress out about him catching a peek either way. You could speak to your DS in both languages, but I would speak in one language in the morning and one at night if you want to do that to avoid confusion later on. If you were to only speak Spanish to him, that would also be fine, as he'll pick up English easily when he's immersed in it.
The study that determined that language development is actually harmed by videos like Baby Einstein ones can be found here: https://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2010/09/27/0956797610384145
BFP #1 9/7/10, EDD 5/14/11, Violet born 5/27/11.
BFP #2 4/9/12, EDD 12/16/12, M/C Rory 4/24/12.
BFP #3 10/6/12, EDD 6/16/12., Matilda born 6/17/13.
blah! So I am ruining her vocabulary by letting her watch little Einstein. I take all of these scientific studies with a grain of salt. All babies are not the same and what works for one does not work for another. Bottom line is that MY baby enjoys watching this video. There are a lot of bright colors and shapes and music and nursery rhymes and she coos away at the t.v. when she watches it. Maybe other perfect super moms won't introduce t.v to their children. To each her own.
We will be starting to learn sign language on Monday. Also through a video.
I don't really care how you parent, but you can't argue with the tons of studies that have been done on this subject. You can take them with a grain of salt if you wish, but I personally give a little bit of credit to them. I'm sure my baby would also enjoy them, but as the parent, I get to make the decisions that I think are best for her. I'm sure she'll enjoy drinking lots of soda and eating candy when she's a child too, and really what works for one does not work for another, but that doesn't mean that I'll let her have her fill of sugar just because.
Many of the studies are directed at children who spend 2- 3 hours a day in front of the television with NO parental interaction, the strongest effect is seen from 8-16 months when language skills are forming. As I said before, I sit with her and watch and sing and count and play with her as she watches it.
It is just me and her as DH is overseas,so she get plenty of interaction with me. Just thought I would let everyone know how much SHE likes this video, mostly because I was shocked that she actually paid attention to it. It has a lot of visual stimulation for her and she was actually cooing at it which she has just learned to do. I was not trying to turn this in to a debate over good/ bad parenting skills or scientific studies of what kids should and should not be doing...
I agree with all of this. I might not change the way I parent based on an isolated study, but when a significant number of studies have been done and the AAP has issued a recommendation, I definitely take it into consideration. Oh, and the study I cited wasn't about children who sit in front of a TV for hours a day. Check it out.
BFP #1 9/7/10, EDD 5/14/11, Violet born 5/27/11.
BFP #2 4/9/12, EDD 12/16/12, M/C Rory 4/24/12.
BFP #3 10/6/12, EDD 6/16/12., Matilda born 6/17/13.
I'm all about my LO not watching TV, but did you actually read this study? All it shows is that Einstein DVDs do not "improve" cognitive learning for the kids. And that (obviously) Parental teaching>DVD learning (in concert with parents or without) and control. No where does it say that it harms the kid.
I dislike the whole baby einstein concept/make sure that your kid reads at 1/mozart makes them smarter, but let's call a spade a spade. And for whatever it's worth, that paper's data just showed that direct parental involvement is better than letting a TV try to teach your kids/do nothing at all. Which is pretty obvious.
I don't know if they reimbursed anyone, but if they did, I would presume it had to do with their "false advertising", given that their statement that "studies show that watching our DVDs make your kid smarter/acquire language faster" is not exactly truthful.
If you really read the AAP recommendations, they state that they advocate against TV watching before the age of two because they want the parents to take over that time with alternate child/parent time.
"Pediatricians should urge parents to avoid television viewing for children under the age of 2 years. Although certain television programs may be promoted to this age group, research on early brain development shows that babies and toddlers have a critical need for direct interactions with parents and other significant caregivers (eg, child care providers) for healthy brain growth and the development of appropriate social, emotional, and cognitive skills. Therefore, exposing such young children to television programs should be discouraged"
i.e. spend time with kids. don't let the tv be their babysitter, have personal contact, because once you use tv as the baby sitter, you'll see how easy that is, you'll do it more and then it'll become a habit. i mean, if you watch mad men, you'll understand how "go watch tv" was the answer to everything.
(note, that is MY statement, not the AAP rec's. and I don't let my DS watch tv, not because it's "bad" but because i don't want to fall in the trap of having tv time/computer time inhibit my time with my DS)