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Should Babies Watch Videos?

Posted August 23, 2015 - 4:43am

There are videos for newborns to 18-month olds boasting that watching them will boost your baby's brain development. Do they really help?

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CandyOvercaffed

Honestly I don't think they help, but I don't think they are harmful either when used mindfully. It may give you something to talk about with your little one, which will create a meaningful experience for you both. That's what will stick.


MommyUnwired

I agree with you :) If we just let them watch videos, we are making the videos their babysitters


sunnykathleen

There is a wonderful book from more than a decade ago called The Scientist in the Crib. Fascinating bok about how we learn.  


sunnykathleen

I have an early childhood background and as teacher I believe that children learn best from being talked to, sung to and read to. Experiences are everything at this age - touching, doing, tasting, playing are how the connections in the brain are made and solidified. 


justamom

I have experience working in behavior modification & I believe that it's better to have a child interact with others & even play with toys. I think they get the maximum amount of brain stimulation that way, not from just watching videos. I think the brain is wired to be stimulated best by engaging in social interaction and reinforcement.


MommyUnwired

I so agree.  Nothing can replace interaction with the child


Frugal Minded M...

I never bought the Baby Einstein videos for my kids because I don't think they would work great.  I rented them a couple of times from the library and with a couple of the kids it was calming to them, but not sure if it boosted intelligence or not.


MommyUnwired

I let my child watch that (I think I borrowed a video from a cousin) once and she never watched through it.  She watched for less than a minute lol


Your Kid's Table

There is actually new research that shows it actually is detriment, and children's speech is delayed.


Renata Lander

I am not sure how it works. The first 2 years of your kid is a critical time for brain development.  Watching TV steals time away from your kid’s exploring, interacting, playing with you and others, and actively learning by manipulating things around him. So they are saying that it's better to play with your child than just let him watch the TV or YouTube even if they supposedly develop. Just pay more attention to your baby!


Renata Lander

I am not sure how it works. The first 2 years of your kid is a critical time for brain development.  Watching TV steals time away from your kid’s exploring, interacting, playing with you and others, and actively learning by manipulating things around him. So they are saying that it's better to play with your child than just let him watch the TV or YouTube even if they supposedly develop. Just pay more attention to your baby!