We received several of the Baby Einstein videos as gifts before our daughter arrived. I assumed from the brand name that they were educational in nature, and we were pleased to have them.
Although we're not big on television for ourselves, occasionally we rev up the VCR and let Pearl watch. This little girl is completely mesmerized by television, and not just Baby Einstein. She likes anything on TV, and sometimes when the set is off, she shakes it as if to wake it up.
I'm not sure what I expected the first time I experienced the Baby E phenomenon, but I was definitely surprised. The ones we have (Bach & Mozart) show toys, often in motion, against a plain background. So picture this: 20 seconds of watching a top spin, 20 seconds of watching a candle burn, 20 seconds of a lava lamp gurgling, and so on.
I may have gone to college forever, but I've never taken a psychology course in my life, so if you can explain the developmental aspect of these videos, please do. I find them puzz
ling.
The most perplexing part, though, is when Madame Baby Einstein (Julie Aigner-Clark is her real name) explains at the end of the tape that the series is meant to be INTERACTIVE. As she enlightens us, we see a parent sitting beside a baby, and as the baby watches a puppet on the TV screen, the parent waves a puppet-covered hand at baby from the other side. Who would do that?
But this week brought along an epiphany! Consult the photo above and you will see Baby Pearl touching and tapping the screen, even kissing it on occasion. She is INTERACTING with the Baby Einstein video. I guess this is an example of how the younger generation is going to find the answers to our most burning questions. She sure solved this mystery.