Baby Dopey?

Some sad news out there for all of us moms who thought we could outsource our parental duty to educate our children to Baby Einstein...

A new study by some geniuses from Washington University--who most likely didn't grow up watching Baby Einstein (how, then, can they be smart enough to make it into college?)--found that brainy-baby movies won't help get our kids into Harvard. So, apparently we're not quite off the hook and actually have to do a bit of parenting ourselves once again. According to this study [sigh], for every hour that we stick our wee ones in front of the tube watching these brainy-baby movies, they will understand an average of six to eight fewer words than little ones who don't watch the movies.

Well, this must explain my two oldest: Tommy didn't watch as much Baby Einstein as Sam and understood much more at an earlier age than Sam. Of course, Sam isn't afflicted with a speech disorder and we can actually understand what he says, so maybe this isn't a good example.

Anyway...what on earth would we do without researchers looking out for us! I'm sure there are many parents out there reading this story that might find it newsworthy (of course, I'm blogging on it, so I must find something newsworthy about it) and be surprised by the study's findings that too much TV--even "educational" TV--isn't good for babies. I guess what really makes me so sad, though, are all the parents out there who really believe that all the latest videos, games and gadgets are necessary so their kids can keep up with or have an edge on all the other kids out there. It's easy to fall into that trap.

Personally, we really like Baby Einstein movies--especially the music in them. I just wish I had come up with the idea myself!

Hat tip: Fox News via email from Brewmaster