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Watching Baby Einstein DVDs with your baby
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Baby Einstein products are designed to provide parents with tools they can use to help their babies explore the world around them - music, animals, and more. Baby Einstein recommends that parents engage in responsible, supervised viewing of age and developmentally appropriate content with their babies. We strongly support the recommendations that parents view content together with their baby as well as balance screen time with other activities such as reading, talking, singing, and playing.
Talk! Talk! Talk! From the moment we say that first "hello" to our new baby, we begin developing our little one's language. So, when you're watching a DVD, you don't have to be quiet. This is a chance to create little stories. For example, if you see mechanical toys on the DVD, describe the action to your baby - see the seals go UP the ladder. Now they're sliding DOWN and around - very fast." Your baby may respond with a smile, nod, or squeal. If your baby starts "talking" back to your sounds, praise, cuddle, and imitate your baby to keep the conversation going.
From the Video Theme to the Real World Scene. Whenever there is an opportunity to link what you have seen on the DVD to other experiences in baby's life, make that connection. For example, if you watched a DVD about animals, you might say, "Oh, look. There's a BIG fish on the screen. Do we have another fish in our house?" And off you go to look at your goldfish. This kind of activity shows baby that something we see in one place can be seen in other places too.
Bring it to Life. If children or puppets on the DVD are jumping or dancing, you can hold your little one and dance along to show baby how it feels. You can also play infant-sized musical instruments to accompany the background music. Or, try using puppets or baby's favorite stuffed animals to mimic the action on the screen. You may get giggles from your little one. Babies usually want to do what they see, and you can make that happen.
Make it Personal. Try making connections between what happens on the screen with what happens in baby's life. If you have a DVD that contains sign language, try some of the simpler signs with your baby. If you see how the puppets always do silly stuff, bring a puppet to mealtime to help you serve the food, or provide additional encouragement to complete the meal.
Make it a Family Affair. Consider using DVD time as a way to interact with the whole family. If baby has older siblings, you can invite them to watch the DVD with you. Encourage your older children to point out the names of the animals, say the colors, or even make animal sounds. They probably will love playing with baby and will be excited about showing off how much they know!
Listen to Baby Talk Back. Encourage your little one to babble and make sounds in response to your conversation. It's like getting an answer without words, and you can have the most joyous "conversations" at this stage. Typically, words will start to take shape by 12 months. By continuing with the "call and answer" approach with baby, you will have a purpose in talking, even if there's not always a response.
Balance Viewing Time. Other activities such as outside "field trips" in the stroller, singing, playing, and mealtime are all very important parts of your child's day. Age and developmentally appropriate DVDs are engaging and useful, but they should be considered one tool among many, including books, blocks, balls, paints, and paper, that you can use to promote your child's development and fill your time together with fun things to do.
Don't Forget the Fun. No matter what's on the screen, one of the greatest joys in parenting is just "hanging out" with your child and marveling at how far and how fast they grow and progress along their developmental path. So, amidst all the wonderful plans you make for time together, also simply relax and have some fun - not only is it good for your well-being; it's great for your baby too!
Recall What You've Seen. For verbal children, after viewing the DVD, ask what he or she remembered from the DVD and create an art project or paint a picture that represents your child's recollection. If the focus was on shapes, draw the different shapes that were featured on the screen, and color them with a variety of colors. Or, if your little one calls out animals, have him or her say out loud the sound the animal makes.
Content Is Key. Make sure your baby is watching age-and developmentally-appropriate content at all times. Many DVDs that explore musical and visual experiences are designed to reflect baby's interest in looking and gazing at one thing or another. These DVDs provide an opportunity for you to cuddle up with baby and talk about what you see. By the time baby is around four months old, he or she will not only recognize your voice, but also be able to sense that the tone of your voice signals different emotions.