So Smart! Baby's Beginnings: Letters / First Words / Colors / Bonus CD: Sleepytime

We bought this So Smart! series after reviewing many others, including Baby Eisteins and a tremendous number of other so-called eduacational/entertainment products on the market, and found these to match very closely to our parenting philosophy. My twins, now 2, watch very little television, less than 1.5 hours per week, and never anything that's marketed or has commercials. In fact, most of the time, the program that they want to watch is the So Smart series. They have outgrown this particular one, but because the other email so terribly berates all videos or television programs, I felt compelled to tell other Amazon customers that this product is actually worth your money. It provides a soothing environment with a kind narration, and gentle animation that doesn't overstimulate, yet provides enough entertainment value while still teaching your infants about colors, words, numbers, animals, and all of the other basics that will lead to a good start educationally. Let's face facts and realize that sometimes a mom just needs a little break, and especially if you watch the programs with your children, explaining what they see, they will become engaged in it right beside you. But if you must place the child in their bouncer seat and put something on the tube so you can throw in your um-teenth load of laundry today, this will work like a charm. This is a well-deserved award winning educational program, and I'm proud to say that these two very highly educated and successful adults, who also happen to be very involved and devoted parents, give the entire So Smart! series 5 stars. First Word Stories is also great for your chidren from 9 months to 2+ years.

I'm amazed that people haven't wised up to the deceptive marketing practices used in the titles of videos like Baby Einstein and So Smart! There are no data to support these videos making kids 'smarter' or more like Einstein. Unfortunately, many parents read the title and subconsciously (or not so subconsciously) decide that if the video is called this, it must make kids smarter. Think about it - would you be equally inclined to buy this video if it was called "Ketchup sandwich?" I would venture a guess that most consumers wouldn't.Our local PBS station carries a lot of them. These videos are slow-moving and simple - which is fine for small children. They're probably no better than most other cartoons for pure (and questionable) entertainment purposes IF your child likes them (which our kids don't). However, don't buy them thinking you're doing something good for your kids. Reading, drawing, building with blocks - those are mind-building activities for little minds. Watching TV is not and should not be considered good for children no matter how the stuff put on the screen is marketed. Instead, I hope that consumers exercise a little consumer activism and stop buying things that may trick well-meaning parents into thinking they're doing something good for their children.