Recent headlines on the topic of “baby TV,” most of which damned Baby Einstein specifically, and, by association, all baby media, and by further association all parents who ever used or even thought of using a baby video with their child, would lead you to believe that all screentime is harmful or simply a waste of time. Others, including many academic and child development voices, argue that baby TV is not a black and white proposition.

New research suggests that appropriately designed content can result in learning as well as in increases in real world interactions. It also challenges the somewhat simplistic assumption that if we just turned off the TV all would be right in the world of parenting and child growth and development.

One of the more interesting facts in the current debate over “baby TV” is that all programming created for the under-two set is being lumped together. In some ways, that’s like saying all books, all music, all toys are the same.

The most recent research indicates the opposite to be true and reflects what parents already know: CONTENT MATTERS. The real issues are ones of moderation–making sure that you limit the amount of screen time; content–looking for programming that a baby is capable of not only attending to but understanding; and context–using TV like any other developmental experience for your child…talk about it, describe it, play along–use it to frame your natural interactions.

Damning the medium itself does not help us to understand how, when and why it might be an effective tool. We live in a highly media and screen-centric world. Our goal is to better understand the effective and responsible role of media in all of our lives…and we know now that what’s on the screen and how it’s presented can and does make a difference. That’s what we need to focus on.

Unlike so many baby DVDs that simply display collections of images or are akin to video flash cards, our “adventures” feature eebee, the baby’s baby, along with real babies and real grown-ups engaged in real-world, hands-on play. Rather than an “adventure” being about the “seasons,” or “animals,” each adventure is based on a play curriculum.  They are social. And babies are social learners. For example, eebee and friends play with water, paper and boxes, light and shadow, rolling and sliding, making music, building and un-building, or filling and dumping and grown-ups assist, describe and play along–just like in the real-world and just like the developmental research and experts suggest.

The Parents’ Choice Foundation says our approach is “much more engaging than typical DVDs aimed at cultivating geniuses, this is a guide for cultivating good parents.”

We know that watching is no substitute for actual experience, but observing and modeling are often the first step to doing—for babies and for parents.

We want to not only engage babies, but inspire parents as well. Our goal is to be a catalyst for real-world play, to focus on the foundational skills babies can only build through experience, and to celebrate the natural everyday interactions with parents that are essential for learning.

The exciting and satisfying result of this baby- and play-centered approach is the countless reports from families who describe how they are not only playing and interacting with their babies during an “adventure,” but before and after as well. Hearing these stories, receiving baby pictures, and knowing that we are a playful addition to a parent’s arsenal of learning tools are what truly inspires us.

Dr. Kathy Hirsch-Pasek, author of Einstein Never Used Flashcards, says “After decades of research, scientists and child development experts have come to a clear conclusion: Play is the best way for children to learn.” Yet Hirsh-Pasek is also an academic advisor for eebee’s adventures. Hirsh-Pasek says, “eebee’s adventures sparkle with a creativity that shows how the magic of everyday moments can become extraordinary learning opportunities.”

Hirsh-Pasek believes that video content that can “come off the screen and onto the living room floor” might have the potential to prompt real interactions between a parent and child and therefore, could make a difference for both parent and baby. She acknowledges that more research needs to be done on the topic..

Dr. Deborah Linebarger, a children’s media research scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, echoes Hirsh-Pasek’s point of view, and has been at the forefront of conducting research that is both longitudinal and that looks at what’s actually on the screen. “If what’s on the screen reflects a baby’s world and the types of situations a child might naturally be observing, then there’s the likelihood that very young children can understand it and potentially learn from it,” she says.

The reality is that babies, in general, are social learners. Babies get a lot of stimulation from a lot of very different stimuli…people, pets, books, music, toys, boxes, keys, your glasses, your hair, your clothing, pots, pans, doors… and videos. Nevertheless, they need you, their first teacher (and favorite toy) to help them make sense of the world and build knowledge and skills. If moderate co-viewing of appropriate content results in babies and parents smiling, laughing, talking, singing, dancing, and playing, before, during or after viewing, isn’t that, after all, exactly what the doctors ordered?
**on several occasions the press has referred to eebee as “the Un-baby Einstein.”

About a year ago, I chanced upon a blog entry from Dana Verhoff, a mom, educator and play advocate.  Dana’s post was not a review, just a mom’s thoughts about how eebee and our philosophy motivated her to actually host her own eebee-inspired developmental play dates.  Her insights were thoughtful and her candor refreshing.  I sent Dana an email and we even made a phone date so that I could get her feedback first-hand.   That was our last direct contact.  A few weeks ago, I came across another blog entry in which eebee’s adventures was on a short list of recommended TV shows.   The post was about toddlers and TV. http://toddlerbrain.blogspot.com/2009/09/toddler-tv-time.html The blogger’s POV was “it depends on the show.”  The blogger, Dana Verhoff.  We reconnected and I invited Dana to write a guest blog about her developmental play dates.  Dana’s blog follows….  I hope this will be the first of many guest blogs.  Please get in touch if you’re interested in writing a guest blog, too!    Best,  Stephen.

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Ever thought about taking an ordinary play date – moms chatting while the corralled babies play on the floor - to the next level?   With just a little bit of planning and some materials from around your house, you can take an already delightful experience and make it meaningful.  You can host a play date with a “higher purpose.” A play date inspired by eebee’s Adventures not only focuses on developmental play but also empowers you and your mommy friends to see play through an enhanced lens … as demonstrated by a handful of kiddos.  Pretty exciting stuff, huh?

Be forewarned, this type of playdate is likely to be a bit of controlled chaos … as learning should be, in this educator’s humble opinion.
So here’s what I did …
I hosted a play date with 6 other moms and babies, ages 10-18 months.
I set up three separate stations – one in the living room, one in the family room, and one in our little play niche – each one a different learning adventure.
• Pouring and Scooping – two big bins filled with uncooked rice, all kinds of scoops and cups, and a big blanket to cover the floor (I’ve found that makes clean-up a little easier).
• Building and Stacking – a big bin filled with all the blocks and cups I could find and a collection of empty boxes (cereal, shipping, diapers, …)
• Rolling and Sliding – a board made into an inclined plane by propping it against the ottoman, balls of all shapes and sizes, and a set of random objects for sliding
When the moms first arrived, I gave them a handout for each station – information I obtained from the eebee.com website under Parent Info. Each handout defined the concepts this type of play teaches, explained the importance of learning the concept, and suggested ways for parents to be involved in the play (things to say and ask). I asked the moms to take a minute to preview each activity while the babies played and “got to know each other.” And I gave a little “talk” about my passion for teaching/learning and why I think eebee Adventures is such a good tool for moms and babies; remember, I am a teacher so this is right up my alley, but it’s not essential to the overall success of the play date.
From there, we split into groups – two moms and two babies – to rotate through the stations. Each station visit lasted about 10 minutes and then groups moved on to the next. The rice station was a big hit amongst the babies, but some moms seemed a little skeptical about making such a big mess. It did take me about 20 minutes to clean it all up after the PD, but I think it was totally worth it!
After 30 minutes of rotating, I brought everyone back together for snacks and conversation about what happened at each station, what observations the moms made, what ideas they would take back home with them … that sort of thing. Oh, and while the adults talked, I popped in our eebee DVD and the babies got to watch other babies playing just the way they did at the stations! With just this brief introduction to the eebee concept and the philosophy of developmental play, it was clear that the idea of play was being redefined in their minds. Now, that’s exciting!

Now that my daughter is two years old, she’s crossed into an age group in which most of the play dates we attend are structured around crafts or physical activities. What I’ve found is that the age group between 9 and 24 months is a time when crafts/games don’t really work, but those little minds are craving more. Most play dates become just a chance to play with another child’s toys in someone else’s house and gain some socialization. All of which is fine and good, but the potential to maximize learning – with minimal effort – should not be ignored. Play – and even play dates – can be fun and meaningful. I am so glad eebee has taught me that lesson, and I enjoyed sharing it with other moms, too!

Dana Verhoff
Mommy of a two-year old with one on the way
Blogger at mommybrain.com and toddlerbrain.com
Teacher with a passion for learning and technology