However, they cannot be blamed for lazy parenting. They have the word “interactive” all over their website. The decision is for parents to do what they will with their product.

Far more importantly, however, is that fact that there really are educational videos out there. Einstein is not the only company that makes media for little ones. There are amazing products out there that teach (and I do mean teach– yes, in every other context, showing a child something is considered teaching the child. Why is a study necessary to show that videos do teach? They definitely teach something. Some videos teach more and some less. Some children get more and some less.)

For example, Muzzy. You want your child to learn a foreign language and you don’t speak one? Can’t afford a multilingual nanny? Well, that product gives your baby a chance to hear another language during that early window of language learning and long before you can send them to Spanish class. Couple it with some Spanish song CDs for kids and an occasional spanish Dora on TV and your kid obviously has a head start over the kid who has never hear an Ola until the ripe old age of 4.

The sad fact about Baby EInstein is that it really has no educational content that needs to be presented to a baby. What about colors and numbers 1-5 you protest? Big deal, a baby can learn that in no time flat with a book or you pointing things out for a week. Watching the same inane video 100 times after they got the idea from a viewing or two (even though they cannot tell you that they know) has got to be as mind numbing for babies as it is for adults.

Sorry, but since when do parents need fricking videos to play and interact with their kids? Since when is a puppet on a screen better for kids than a puppet in the hands of mom or dad or daycare provider, interacting with the child?

This is lazy parenting at its worst, and adding the word “Einstein” to the title doesn’t make it any better.

Take that baby out for a walk in the real world and let them listen to the birds and see other people’s faces. Put on some music–any music you love and dance with them. Sit them on your lap and play pat-a-cake and peekaboo and bouncing games. You don’t need a video for that, and if you DO need some help with the games, I happen to know of a lot of good books with ideas

Yup, it’s work. But it’s also fun. And the time that they will be babies wanting to play “Trot Trot to Boston” and “Ring Around the Rosie” lasts such a short time. Plenty of time for the videos later..