For the record, all our videos are educational, and our children did learn a lot from them. With our help, they even learned to sit still for half an hour, quietly, and watch, which was good for focusing skills. Our third child learned the most from Blues Clues, and combined with the modeling of his older brothers, he is extremely precocious for only turning two. (Speaks in full sentences, communicates ideas, that sort of thing.)

However, I think that there is a lot of truth in what you’re saying. I’m glad the Baby Einstein fiasco discouraged parents from letting their infants watch TV. Infants strapped in their bouncy seats in front of spinning shapes hardly seems educational. Most babies won’t even watch a screen for more than a couple minutes. I think that is the biggest sign I need to say that babies and TV probably aren’t compatible. I’m sure some babies learn things from videos, but that probably is because of their parents’ being there. Parents always should be the first and best teachers. TV cannot bring things “alive” for kids.

So back to your post, I feel schizophrenic. I think educational TV should have a place in the home if parents decide it’s ok. And I think Baby Einstein raised our consciousnesses about infant education. I certainly believe that the world out there is only causing guilt for parents: doomed if you do, doomed if you don’t. So any position that encourages parents to make decisions confidently–TV or not–is good. In the end, this confidence will benefit the whole family.

Of course a parent should not leave their infant sitting alone infront of the TV by his/herself watching the movies. That’s not how they were intended to be used. If you sit and watch a movie, after the credits there is Julia Clark, the founder, talking about The Baby Einstein Co and how, if you sit with your child they will learn. You’re sitting there together interacting and going along with the movie, so how is that doing harm??