Originally published January 15 2006
Family group cites lack of evidence to support educational claims of toy makers
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A report from the Kaiser Family Foundation asserts that no scientific evidence exists to support claims that educational toys boost the intelligence of infants and toddlers.
Despite all the marketing hype, no scientific research shows that electronic media like DVDs and computer games makes babies, toddlers and preschoolers smarter, a new Kaiser Family Foundation report says.
"A lot of people have very high hopes about using the new media to promote learning ...
The report looked at products such as the "Brainy Baby" and "Baby Einstein" videos, the "V. Smile" and "Leapster" video game systems, and software like "Jumpstart: Advanced Toddler" and "Disney Learning Toddler."
Educational claims made by the products range from the general -- "Turn game time into brain time" -- to the specific -- "Amusing animations and songs help your toddler learn the alphabet."
But the Kaiser report found no scientifically valid research to support the educational claims of electronic media products now on the market, said Dimitri Christakis, a report co-author and a pediatrician at Children's Hospital in Seattle.
Marcia Grimsley, senior producer of the "Brainy Baby" videos and DVDs, said her company "bases a lot of our content on anecdotes and testimonials from parents.
The Kaiser report summarized four recommendations made by child development experts to help parents to determine the value of electronic media for their children.
The recommendations include: increasing research on the impact of electronic media on babies and toddlers; creating an independent, non-profit review service; studying the possibility of creating clear standards for products marketed as education; and supporting the development of non-commercial educational media for young children.
Those recommendations urge no screen time at all for children under age 2, and no more than 1-2 hours per day of "high quality educational screen media" for children ages 2 and older, although as conference participants noted there is no official definition of what constitutes "high quality educational screen media."
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