Baby Einstein Refunds
October 27, 2009
Baby Einstein Refunds:many of you have heard that the Walt Disney Company is offering refunds for its Baby Einstein videos, which were originally marketed as educational for children. The refund may be a “tacit admission that they did not increase infant intellect,” according to the New York Times.
Even though many families use Baby Einstein videos as ad hoc baby sitters—and many children do seem mesmerized by them–child development experts say that exposure to the videos don’t really enhance children’s intellect and instead could actually harm development. As we’ve written before, there are lots of conflicting studies about the effects of screen time on young children, but the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend any screen time at all for children under 2.
All the same, Baby Einstein videos and products are ubiquitous in families with young children. According to a 2003 study cited by the Times, a third of all U.S. babies ages 6 months to 2 years had at least one Baby Einstein video.
We don’t own any Baby Einstein videos and so far, our son, a year and a half, has never showed much interest in watching TV and videos—he’s much more fascinated by playing with the remote than what’s on the screen itself. So far, he’s blissfully unaware of Elmo, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Dora and Diego. Still, like many busy parents, I can understand the allure of setting a child down in front of a video for a spell while, say, preparing dinner or making an important phone call.
Disney, the Times says, will refund $15.99 for up to four “Baby Einstein” DVDs per household, bought between June 5, 2004, and Sept. 5, 2009, and returned to the company. The offer, which allows parents to exchange their video for a different title, receive a discount coupon, or get $15.99 each for up to four returned DVDs, requires no receipt and extends until next March 10. (More details on the refund can be found here.)
Baby Einstein Refund,Baby Einstein Recall
October 24, 2009
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Baby Einstein Refund,Baby Einstein Recall:The Disney Company markets the Baby Einstein product line as an educational tool for very young children from ages 3 months to 3 years. The subjects covered are usually classical in nature. However more prominent research shows them to be ineffective in their goal prompting Baby Einstein refund.
Disney is offering a full refund of $15.99 to anyone who purchased a Baby Einstein DVD between June 5, 2004 and Sept. 4, 2009. Consumers can also exchange the DVDs for Baby Einstein books, music or a 25 percent off coupon.
Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood claims the offer was the result of a Federal Trade Commission’s reaction to the CCFC charge in 2006 as to the efficacy of video education methods. Baby Eintein reps claim otherwise, and the choice was a decision pursuant to a new parent’s guide.
The decision may also be related to increasing preasure in light of recent research showing that the Baby Eintein series is not only ineffective but even detremental.
An August 2007 the Journal of Pediatrics released a study by researchers at the University of Washington on the effects of television and DVD/video viewing on language development in children under two years of age.
The study’s authors, Drs. Frederick Zimmerman, Dimitri Christakis, and Andrew Meltzoff, concluded that exposure to “baby DVDs/videos” — such as Baby Einstein and Brainy Baby is strongly associated with lower scores on a standard language development test.
It does prove the admonishments of groups like the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood that having a coporation raise your child via electronic media is no substitute for the parent or real education.
The CCFC on their website claims this recall and the refund of Baby Einstein videos and products as a victory.click here
