Before I became a parent, I paid NO attention to parenting. Now that I am a father, it has become a consuming pursuit. Being a non-conformist in every sense of the word, I look for ideas that go against the mainstream. That’s why I was thrilled to read that these Baby Einstein videos have been shown to be less than effective at helping kids to become happy, grounded and curious children.
But they have allowed parents to park their kids in front of the video screen and get some much needed rest. While I can appreciate and empathize, I do believe that we are doing a major disservice to our kids when we do this. Every time I am exhausted but I need to be front and center for my son, I remind myself of my duty and I say to myself:
“Don’t be a lazy father.” Short of abuse, there may be nothing worse than a lazy father.
My first exposure to Baby Einstein was when a friend propped his child in front of the TV and exhaled at how content and mesmerized his baby was by the activities on the screen. Unable to forget my Psych Ops training in the Army, I wondered if there wasn’t something in the videos that made kids become entranced, immobile, silent and compliant.
“Put your kid here,” said my buddy, “He’ll love it,”
My son would have no part of any quiet play on a beautiful summer afternoon. He only wanted direct, outdoor engagement. We went on the swings and yes, I was getting tired. I had been a long day. But my son was hanging on to the swing with a smile a mile wide. My friend’s daughter was consumed by Baby Einstein. Somehow, instinctively, I knew where I wanted to be on this issue.
I recently read a passage in the new book NUTURE SHOCK by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, citing research that showed these videos to be detrimental to a child’s development.
Of course Disney (the makers of the DVD) rushed to Baby Einstein’s defense, citing the oft used excuse of “Flawed Research.”
(The Flawed Research excuse is what’s keeping anti-pesticide activists like me at bay for the time being)
I’m convinced these DVD’s and many other baby items deemed indispensable to a child’s development are actually genius marketing creations that are designed to help relieve parents of their burden (responsibility) of engaging their children.
My son’s favorite toys continue to be the BPA free bottle top and a non-treated wooden spoon which he loves to bang on an old cooking pot.
Ray Salomone Personal Trainer and Wellness Activist
Blog: www.GrecoRomanWellness.wordpress.com
The Most Provocative Wellness Blog on the Planet
Eat Fresh, Whole Foods. Exercise Intensely
PLAY ROUGH AND LIVE LIKE YOU MEAN IT!!!
Contact Me Directly at: Ray@GrecoRomanWellness.com
Coming Soon to bookstores:
The Greco Roman Road to Wellness
by Ray Salomone and Dr. Katina Ioannidis
Amazon link:
During my vast amounts of free time, I am also a fiction writer. My first novel, PEACE BE WITH YOU, a psychological drama of addiction and redemption, was published in 2007.
This is the Amazon link:
My next novel, HUMAN TRAFFIC, a story of love and vengeance, will be finished sometime in the next decade.
