Baby Einstein DVD's

In a recently published study (August 2007) in the Journal of Pediatrics, it was found that exposure to DVDs and videos such as Baby Einstein and Brainy Baby may actually slow vocabulary development in infants ages 8 to 16 months of age. Researchers at the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute in Seattle WA found that for every hour per day spent watching baby DVDs and videos, infants understood an average of 6 to 8 fewer words than infants who did not watch them. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends no television for children under 24 months. Complete article available at (http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/161/5/473) All parents are interested in preparing their children for preschool and improving academic performance. However, baby DVD's, television and other media for children under the age of 2 may actually have a negative rather than positive impact on linguistic development , as young babies seem to learn language best through interaction with people using story books , toys, warm social interaction and speaking "parentese" (melodic speech) which all foster language development. Parents who select developmental toys that encourage cognitive development and stimulate creative play are more likely to see improved language and social learning skills than parents who rely on educational videos. I also truly encourage parents to avoid excessive use of high tech toys with lights and buttons that require limited interaction between you and your child. I refer to these as "passive toys" since they require little interaction or imagination. The best toys for language development are those which may not initially excite your toddler with lights and action, but instead help your child play and explore with you while developing early language skills for social, cognitive and academic growth to face future challenges with confidence. To learn more about why appropriate toys and play are important for optimal early childhood development visit the parents section of the ceotoddler.com website. The CEO Toddler activity manual is a great tool for parents and can be used as a helpful developmental guide for tracking early childhood language skills. Diane Simon MS CCC-SLP