Practical Parenting: Baby Einstein and Brain Development

Most parents have heard the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that our children don't watch any television before age 2 and, then, fewer than 2 hours per day once they've turned 2 years old. 

And when I was pregnant, I had the best intentions of keeping our TV turned off during Henry's waking hours for the first 2 years.  But now, 23 months later, I will freely admit that we are big fans of Elmo, Blues Clues, and Thomas the Train at our house (this is one of many, humbling "real life reality checks" that has occured for me as a parent). 

Still, I try to be discerning when choosing which programs my little one watches - but what show is best for our kids?  I, like many of you, was initially thrilled with the idea of "Baby Einstein" but disappointing research revealed their claims of promoting children's development were overstated.  (See this link for more details on the Baby Einstein research http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/baby-einstein/AN01990).

So, in the midst of my quest for finding the best possible toddler TV shows, I was fascinated by the information presented in this16 minute video clip of a pediatrician, Dr. Dimitri Christakis, explaining the Over Stimulation Hypothesis - the neuroscience behind developmental changes resulting from early TV viewing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoT7qH_uVNo

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