http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/the-great-baby-einstein-scam-531147/

I know a number of people who swore this was the best thing for babies since the disposable diaper. One guy would talk about how his daughter would just sit and watch it for hours, and it was so great because she'd just sit there and be quiet, and it was educational, too!

--------------------------------------------------------------
13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

Having raised a child with these videos, I can say this - if all you do is have your kids watch these videos - they are correct, nothing will come of it except a kid with ADD most likely. On the other hand, if you also mix in sign language videos, other videos emphasizing language and math skills, and toys that challenge their problem solving skills (correct shape blocks in holes, and puzzles) you can definitely end up with a very talented and intelligent child.

Anyone that bought these videos and expected they would have nothing to add to the mix will have no one to blame but themselves. For sure our kid is way ahead of the curve and will be skipping a grade next year due to the fact that they have excellent social skills as well as advanced learning skills. I actually believe the videos are great as a way to get and hold the attention of your child early on and open them up to actually learn from other methods. I would bet there was a more significant impact from parents that don't put their kids to bed at the same time every night, or lack consistency in how they deal with bad behavior issues when their kids act out. But it is always easier to blame others for our shortcomings. Our kid is certainly not ADD - loves to read, plays well with other kids, and is well behaved most of the time unless they are over tired.

It is kind of like breakfast - you can eat just cereal, and depending on the brand you might get some good nutrition. But every cereal box will advertise that you should eat their product as part of a balanced breakfast to include fruit and other proteins. Baby Einstein needs to include a disclaimer. :)

I may turn in some of our old videos for the refund though - after watching them a couple of hundred times, they don't need a replay :)

If you can’t model the past, where you know the answer pretty well, how can you model the future? - William Happer Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics Princeton University

um.....i agree with both of you? haha weird. simply plopping your kid down in front of the tv and making them watch these videos won't do anything. but RV is right that if you took the time to use the videos to teach some cognitive things i bet something positive would come out of it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/27/2009 01:23AM by un-fairfax aboveground.

When the kid asks to see the videos all the time, either they have subliminal crack in them, or they really do stimulate their brains. lol.

Very active child also - we just used the videos for periods when we were making a meal and wanted to keep them occupied (along with other things like puzzles) or before bed time when it was time to slow down. I have never seen a kid ask to watch sign language videos over and over - intermixed with the baby einstein ones. Today they like to listen to classical music or the einstein music when they go to bed at night. LIKE TO. I can't listen to classical music for long periods of time and not go nuts.

Let me say this - for babies, sign language videos are awesome. They learn to communicate much earlier (even before they can form words properly) and they are much less frustrated.

EDIT: Baby Einstein videos by themselves - definitely a bad idea. I can't see any benefit if all you do is sit your kid in front of those videos and expect them to be a Mensa kid.

If you can’t model the past, where you know the answer pretty well, how can you model the future? - William Happer Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics Princeton University



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/27/2009 01:40AM by Registered Voter.

.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2012 03:52AM by Alias.

I never bought into that Baby Einstein nonsense. However, I will say that when my daughter was an infant/toddler, we taught her baby sign language for simple things like "more" - but we didn't use videos, we did it ourselves. I'll go to my grave swearing that stuff worked.

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

the videos are useful for parents needing 20 min to rest, clean, shower etc...

Very young children like the colors and music. I used them as a 10-15 min babysitter while I passed out next to my baby at 630 in the morning after we had been up for a couple hours.

They are bearable for grown-ups as the music is good and, unlike the Wiggles, BE doesnt make you want to rip your head off. Not the kind of thing you want your small child watching more than 20-30 min a day really.

dono Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> the videos are useful for parents needing 20 min
> to rest, clean, shower etc...
>
> Very young children like the colors and music. I
> used them as a 10-15 min babysitter while I passed
> out next to my baby at 630 in the morning after we
> had been up for a couple hours.
>
> They are bearable for grown-ups as the music is
> good and, unlike the Wiggles, BE doesnt make you
> want to rip your head off. Not the kind of thing
> you want your small child watching more than 20-30
> min a day really.

Exactly lol.

If you can’t model the past, where you know the answer pretty well, how can you model the future? - William Happer Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics Princeton University

Alias Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What idiots!
>
> I can't stand this bullshit.
>
> Parents, let your children explore.
>
> Allow your child's imagination to develop. Skip
> the stupid videos and the idiotic flash cards.
>
> Stop the supervised "play dates" and let your
> children outside, on their own.
>
> Of course, that would require a parent actually
> being home.


I could not agree more. Structured "play dates" are nothing more than an
elitist attempt to shelter children from the real world and preventing them
from developing the "street smarts" and social skills they'll need later in
life.

Helicopter Parents who smother their kids with everything under the sun will
raise socially inept robots who are too spoiled to accept individual responsibility.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwIcaV1xKSA

Ari Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Alias Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What idiots!
> >
> > I can't stand this bullshit.
> >
> > Parents, let your children explore.
> >
> > Allow your child's imagination to develop.
> Skip
> > the stupid videos and the idiotic flash cards.
> >
> > Stop the supervised "play dates" and let your
> > children outside, on their own.
> >
> > Of course, that would require a parent actually
> > being home.
>
>
> I could not agree more. Structured "play dates"
> are nothing more than an
> elitist attempt to shelter children from the real
> world and preventing them
> from developing the "street smarts" and social
> skills they'll need later in
> life.
>
> Helicopter Parents who smother their kids with
> everything under the sun will
> raise socially inept robots who are too spoiled to
> accept individual responsibility.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwIcaV1xKSA


I am now entering the elementary school age with my two kids so the 'activities' are really starting to pile up. I often feel guilty or lazy because basically I would rather spend time with them, or have them play with other kids in an unstructured environment rather than Martial Arts, Swim Teams, Soccer, Football, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Art Camps, Gym Camps etc...

They go to school 7-8 hrs a day and have 30 min homework and they are under 8 yrs. When do they get to relax?

We are new to Cub Scouts but meeting from 7-830 pm on a school night. Eight year olds? Sorry seems totally stupid. When I was a kid, sure we would meet but it was a 4pm not 7pm.

I guess my kids will end up missing out on being pro soccer players or the next Chuck Norris. My hope is they will end up happy with themselves in loving relationships not work-a-holics trying to squeeze life into the slivers of free time in their daytimer...

I can vouch for these movies. I never expected these dvds to magically turn my child into a genius, but its better than most of the other baby crap out there. My son is 15 months, and cant sit still during a Disney movie or Pixar. But good luck trying to get his attention during a Baby Einstein dvd. We mix in other things to stimulate his growing mind; he is infatuated by books!

Dont fault me, but he watches Futurama & Family Guy with me too. Ever since daycare took over, his tv time has gone down to about 30 minutes a day (during the week).

Keep in mind that less than 2% of the population is considered genius (and its prob lower than that). Genius that reaches Einstein level only happens ever hundred years or so.

Living in Fairfax, I fear I may become one of these parents around here; "My child is so gifted, hes skipping grades hes so smart, hes the head of his class, hes the best on his basket ball & soccer team." Dont get me wrong RV, Im sure your children will grow up to become successful productive members of society. Just as I hope the same for my children. But how could they not in an area like this?

I bet all of those parents who hate tv and claim that there are "better things to do" and their children never watch it, are those parents who let someone else take care of their kid during the day.

dono Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
>
> I am now entering the elementary school age with
> my two kids so the 'activities' are really
> starting to pile up. I often feel guilty or lazy
> because basically I would rather spend time with
> them, or have them play with other kids in an
> unstructured environment rather than Martial Arts,
> Swim Teams, Soccer, Football, Cub Scouts, Girl
> Scouts, Art Camps, Gym Camps etc...
>
> They go to school 7-8 hrs a day and have 30 min
> homework and they are under 8 yrs. When do they
> get to relax?
>
> We are new to Cub Scouts but meeting from 7-830 pm
> on a school night. Eight year olds? Sorry seems
> totally stupid. When I was a kid, sure we would
> meet but it was a 4pm not 7pm.
>
> I guess my kids will end up missing out on being
> pro soccer players or the next Chuck Norris. My
> hope is they will end up happy with themselves in
> loving relationships not work-a-holics trying to
> squeeze life into the slivers of free time in
> their daytimer...


I'm in the same situation, and I agree with you 100%. My neighbors look at me like I'm an alien because I don't have my kids crammed into activities all weekend long and every day of the week. My rule is one activity at a time. My kids have been in soccer, karate, cub scouts, music lessons, swim, etc....but not all at the same time.

And I absolutely refuse to put my kid in travel soccer or year-round swim. I work hard, I deserve a weekend that doesn't involve me dragging my kids to this meet or that. I would rather take my kids to the Shenandoah or a ball game. Fuck that suburban mob mentality.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

Sounds like your kids are young ... just wait. You'll cave.

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dono Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> >
> >
> > I am now entering the elementary school age
> with
> > my two kids so the 'activities' are really
> > starting to pile up. I often feel guilty or
> lazy
> > because basically I would rather spend time
> with
> > them, or have them play with other kids in an
> > unstructured environment rather than Martial
> Arts,
> > Swim Teams, Soccer, Football, Cub Scouts, Girl
> > Scouts, Art Camps, Gym Camps etc...
> >
> > They go to school 7-8 hrs a day and have 30 min
> > homework and they are under 8 yrs. When do
> they
> > get to relax?
> >
> > We are new to Cub Scouts but meeting from 7-830
> pm
> > on a school night. Eight year olds? Sorry
> seems
> > totally stupid. When I was a kid, sure we
> would
> > meet but it was a 4pm not 7pm.
> >
> > I guess my kids will end up missing out on
> being
> > pro soccer players or the next Chuck Norris.
> My
> > hope is they will end up happy with themselves
> in
> > loving relationships not work-a-holics trying
> to
> > squeeze life into the slivers of free time in
> > their daytimer...
>
>
> I'm in the same situation, and I agree with you
> 100%. My neighbors look at me like I'm an alien
> because I don't have my kids crammed into
> activities all weekend long and every day of the
> week. My rule is one activity at a time. My kids
> have been in soccer, karate, cub scouts, music
> lessons, swim, etc....but not all at the same
> time.
>
> And I absolutely refuse to put my kid in travel
> soccer or year-round swim. I work hard, I deserve
> a weekend that doesn't involve me dragging my kids
> to this meet or that. I would rather take my kids
> to the Shenandoah or a ball game. Fuck that
> suburban mob mentality.


Looks like we're on the same wave length on this one. When our two kids were
little, at one point we had them in gymnastics, brownies/cub scouts, soccer,
you name it. One day I'd finally had it with spending half my life in a minivan
and dealing with neurotic helicopter parents. Thats when we said "One activity
at a time". I also wanted them to know the other kids in their own neighborhood and have lots of leeway in choosing their friends. I spent weekends taking them camping, fishing, target shooting, and hunting in the GW near Staunton and they're familiar with the local folks there too. Something must have worked because they're both nearly out of college now and they have 4.0 and 3.8 gpa's respectively and have a well adjusted social life away from home. There's
nothing psychologically wrong with them because they didnt "fit the mold"
and your choice of the term "suburban mob mentality" sums it up quite well.

Ari Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
>
> Looks like we're on the same wave length on this
> one. When our two kids were
> little, at one point we had them in gymnastics,
> brownies/cub scouts, soccer,
> you name it. One day I'd finally had it with
> spending half my life in a minivan
> and dealing with neurotic helicopter parents.
> Thats when we said "One activity
> at a time". I also wanted them to know the other
> kids in their own neighborhood and have lots of
> leeway in choosing their friends. I spent weekends
> taking them camping, fishing, target shooting, and
> hunting in the GW near Staunton and they're
> familiar with the local folks there too. Something
> must have worked because they're both nearly out
> of college now and they have 4.0 and 3.8 gpa's
> respectively and have a well adjusted social life
> away from home. There's
> nothing psychologically wrong with them because
> they didnt "fit the mold"
> and your choice of the term "suburban mob
> mentality" sums it up quite well.


It's good to know your kids turned out well. I think most parents are so insecure about their parenting abilities that they are terrified to do something different. I think it is important that kids learn how to positively use unstructured time and to be exposed to some risks while young. I let my kids climb trees in my yard. I can't tell you how many neighbors have acted like this is child abuse. F-them. How is falling a few feet from a low branch any different than having your kid break his collar bone playing soccer??

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

I heard most westfield kids watched baby einstein videos growing up

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ari Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> >
> >
> > Looks like we're on the same wave length on
> this
> > one. When our two kids were
> > little, at one point we had them in gymnastics,
> > brownies/cub scouts, soccer,
> > you name it. One day I'd finally had it with
> > spending half my life in a minivan
> > and dealing with neurotic helicopter parents.
> > Thats when we said "One activity
> > at a time". I also wanted them to know the
> other
> > kids in their own neighborhood and have lots of
> > leeway in choosing their friends. I spent
> weekends
> > taking them camping, fishing, target shooting,
> and
> > hunting in the GW near Staunton and they're
> > familiar with the local folks there too.
> Something
> > must have worked because they're both nearly
> out
> > of college now and they have 4.0 and 3.8 gpa's
> > respectively and have a well adjusted social
> life
> > away from home. There's
> > nothing psychologically wrong with them because
> > they didnt "fit the mold"
> > and your choice of the term "suburban mob
> > mentality" sums it up quite well.
>
>
> It's good to know your kids turned out well. I
> think most parents are so insecure about their
> parenting abilities that they are terrified to do
> something different. I think it is important that
> kids learn how to positively use unstructured time
> and to be exposed to some risks while young. I let
> my kids climb trees in my yard. I can't tell you
> how many neighbors have acted like this is child
> abuse. F-them. How is falling a few feet from a
> low branch any different than having your kid
> break his collar bone playing soccer??

No difference whatsoever. I used to call my son "Tarzan" when he was little because he had a thing about trees. I had neighbors who thought a snowball
fight was a form of domestic violence. Once, a six year old started one with
a bunch of 8 year olds and when he got hit smack in the nose, he went crying
to Mommy. "Mommy" came over and jumped all over me because my son was the
one who hit him. I told her that I had observed the whole thing and that
her son had thrown the first snowball and that he needed to learn that if you cant take it, don't start it. She then threatened to call the police if it
ever happened again so I offered her my phone and told her to go ahead and
call them now and get it over with. She never spoke to me again which was great.

Yahweh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Living in Fairfax, I fear I may become one of
> these parents around here; "My child is so gifted,
> hes skipping grades hes so smart, hes the head of
> his class, hes the best on his basket ball &
> soccer team." Dont get me wrong RV, Im sure your
> children will grow up to become successful
> productive members of society. Just as I hope the
> same for my children. But how could they not in
> an area like this?

I am in total agreement there. We just wanted to arm our child with the best start we could. There are no social problems with interacting with the other kids, so I am not worried about skipping a grade here or there. Also they are taller than average for their age so it works out fine - now they don't have to be the tallest kid in the class. Not a big fan of multiple activities either - I am not planning to compete with the soccer moms/dads of the world.

If you can’t model the past, where you know the answer pretty well, how can you model the future? - William Happer Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics Princeton University

WashingTone-Locian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dono Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> >
> >
> > I am now entering the elementary school age
> with
> > my two kids so the 'activities' are really
> > starting to pile up. I often feel guilty or
> lazy
> > because basically I would rather spend time
> with
> > them, or have them play with other kids in an
> > unstructured environment rather than Martial
> Arts,
> > Swim Teams, Soccer, Football, Cub Scouts, Girl
> > Scouts, Art Camps, Gym Camps etc...
> >
> > They go to school 7-8 hrs a day and have 30 min
> > homework and they are under 8 yrs. When do
> they
> > get to relax?
> >
> > We are new to Cub Scouts but meeting from 7-830
> pm
> > on a school night. Eight year olds? Sorry
> seems
> > totally stupid. When I was a kid, sure we
> would
> > meet but it was a 4pm not 7pm.
> >
> > I guess my kids will end up missing out on
> being
> > pro soccer players or the next Chuck Norris.
> My
> > hope is they will end up happy with themselves
> in
> > loving relationships not work-a-holics trying
> to
> > squeeze life into the slivers of free time in
> > their daytimer...
>
>
> I'm in the same situation, and I agree with you
> 100%. My neighbors look at me like I'm an alien
> because I don't have my kids crammed into
> activities all weekend long and every day of the
> week. My rule is one activity at a time. My kids
> have been in soccer, karate, cub scouts, music
> lessons, swim, etc....but not all at the same
> time.
>
> And I absolutely refuse to put my kid in travel
> soccer or year-round swim. I work hard, I deserve
> a weekend that doesn't involve me dragging my kids
> to this meet or that. I would rather take my kids
> to the Shenandoah or a ball game. Fuck that
> suburban mob mentality.


We all know how much you hate hearing about little Johnny's soccer games...

Anyway, I subscribe to the same theory - I told each of my kids - always try different things, but when you find one or two things that you really like, stick with those. It's better to be really good at one or two things than to be half-ass at a bunch of stuff. I don't force them to do 20 activities per week and I prefer that they just go outside and play with friends. So far it's served me well. They still have time to do their things, "free-play" outside with friends, study, do homework, and even just mind-dump in front of the TV for an hour or so. TV, in moderation can be a time to just decompress and if you watch the right programming, they can actually learn some stuff.

I feel bad for my neighbors, they have two kids in travel soccer and they are gone almost every single weekend to places that can be best described as out of the way. I'm amazed they even have time to do laundry with all of the games and practices.

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

Registered Voter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yahweh Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Living in Fairfax, I fear I may become one of
> > these parents around here; "My child is so
> gifted,
> > hes skipping grades hes so smart, hes the head
> of
> > his class, hes the best on his basket ball &
> > soccer team." Dont get me wrong RV, Im sure
> your
> > children will grow up to become successful
> > productive members of society. Just as I hope
> the
> > same for my children. But how could they not
> in
> > an area like this?
>
> I am in total agreement there. We just wanted to
> arm our child with the best start we could. There
> are no social problems with interacting with the
> other kids, so I am not worried about skipping a
> grade here or there. Also they are taller than
> average for their age so it works out fine - now
> they don't have to be the tallest kid in the
> class. Not a big fan of multiple activities either
> - I am not planning to compete with the soccer
> moms/dads of the world.


I could push my kid to skip a grade, but why? Why force him into college a year or two early? Or out into the workforce a year or two early? What the hell is wrong with experiencing youth while you are young? There is plenty of time for grownup bullshit when you are a grownup. Why push your kid to be a miserable over-achiever?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

Warhawk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> I feel bad for my neighbors, they have two kids in
> travel soccer and they are gone almost every
> single weekend to places that can be best
> described as out of the way. I'm amazed they even
> have time to do laundry with all of the games and
> practices.


If you talk to these parents, they all think their kids are going to be Beckham or Hamm. They aren't.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/13-11.htm

bend it like me

BE creator says she had no experience and did no studies. Frankly I never assumed you needed those to make videos of finger puppets and music. It was baby entertainment not an educational video.

http://consumerist.com/5392689/creator-of-baby-einstein-vids-admitted-in-2005-she-didnt-know-what-she-was-doing

Quote

...
Birth of a Multimillion-Dollar Company

“About a year into my daughter’s life, I started thinking about the whole idea of making a video for babies. Something stimulating and positive. I wondered, ‘Why isn’t there a way to expose her to the arts and sciences?’ I found the marketplace completely lacked what I was looking for. Like many people who start businesses, I spent about a year thinking about it before I actually did anything with the idea.”

Shooting Her First Videos – in the Basement

“I didn’t have a video background, but my husband and I borrowed video equipment and started to shoot scenes on a tabletop in my basement. I put a puppet on my hand and plopped my cat down in front of the camera. My husband and I used our home computer to edit our first video.”

Building a Powerful Brand – All By Herself

“Everything I did in the first videos was based on my experience as a mom. I didn’t do any research. I knew my baby. I knew what she liked to look at. I assumed that what my baby liked to look at, most other babies would, too. I drew the Baby Einstein logo myself. Everyone asks, ‘How did you come up with the name?’ The truth is, I just sat down and thought of it. We didn’t test market it or anything.”
...

Go figure, she saw the market lacked anything like what she wanted, so she developed and produced something based on what her baby responded to. Sometimes it doesn't take a research company to figure it out. She seems well grounded enough to be able to come up with something entertaining and positive for babies, and she was in the perfect position to do it. Good for her. The only people that have an issue today are most likely the parents totally unlike her, that expect to plop out a baby and have it teach itself how to talk and walk and think without any input from them.

If you can’t model the past, where you know the answer pretty well, how can you model the future? - William Happer Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics Princeton University

HOWDY! I agree those videos are crap. The only thing they are good for is to give a frazzled parent a few moments of solitude, but even then, Sesame Street still offers more value (IMO).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Being vague is almost as fun as that other thing.

Melissa Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> HOWDY! I agree those videos are crap. The only
> thing they are good for is to give a frazzled
> parent a few moments of solitude, but even then,
> Sesame Street still offers more value (IMO).


I used to prefer Mr. Rogers.