How to get your "Baby Einstein" refund
Parents who bought "Baby Einstein" toddler videos or DVDs between June 5, 2004 and Sept. 4 found out last week they can return them for up to $15.99 in cash, exchange them for a "Baby Einstein" book or compact disc, or use them toward a 25 percent discount on "Little Einstein" merchandise.
To take advantage of the refund, click here. You will be prompted to print, fill out and mail a form, which must be postmarked by March 2010. There is a limit of four refunds per household.
The upgrade to the Disney-owned company's return policy came after the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood raised concerns about claims the videos were educational.
Research has shown that watching an hour or more of "Baby Einstein" actually delayed development. Doctors suggest children under two years old spend no time in front of the television.
---Samantha Maziarz Christmann
Who the #e(( buys this foolishness for toddlers?
I disagree about TV under the age of two. My kids learned a lot from Sesame Street and were reading at age two because of it. I didn't teach them or drill them on anything--they absorbed it from morning and and afternoon viewings of Sesame Street nearly every day from the time they could sustain the attention to it. Whether they watched ten minutes or 40 minutes was up to them, as other activity centers were nearby. I merely turned on the TV at the appropriate time and let them choose.
Posted by: Lydia Bezou-Hojnacki | October 31, 2009 at 06:46 PM
Of course, here's "Miss Know It All" with her opinion on EVERYTHING. My children (all 3 of them) loved the Baby Einstein series of videos, as well as the books. If you knew what you were talking about (usually you don't) you would see that they are educational, the books use a wide vocabulary that Sesame Street (which my children also enjoy) can't compare to. I know that you seem to think that your way is the only way, but it's time for you to either remove yourself from the 1950's or keep your comments and outdated opinions to yourself. You're not any better than anyone else. And I'm sure that your kids aren't any better, smarter or more successful than the kids of the people that you constatly put down on post after post at buffalonews.com.
Posted by: hockeygal | November 02, 2009 at 02:21 PM
Save your breath, hockeygal, and don't be surprised if your comment is deleted. Ms. Self-Righteous will never change. Many have tried without success.It is best to ignore all comments from LBH.
Posted by: Gidget | November 03, 2009 at 12:36 PM
ROTFLMAO! Some people really know how to show their paranoia over others' worthwhile experiences. But thank you, anyway, for noticing that I am willing to express my opinion and discuss my successful experiences to help others determine the value of educational materials and best practice.
Opinion is opinion, and is neutral--neither right nor wrong.
"Baby Einstein has acknowledged that their videos for infants and toddlers are not educational...." Now that is fact. Commentary presented as fact could possibly be true or false. What previously had been promoted as educational is now acknowledged to be of no significant value.
Now, if only some textbook companies would recall their poorly designed products that make their way into our classrooms!
Posted by: Lydia Bezou-Hojnacki | November 04, 2009 at 12:24 PM
I'm glad someone finally came out and proved these things to be bad. I'm glad some parents enjoyed using them and I'm for using the TV, in fact I do so I can get things done, but I limit it and I know of some parents that really overdid it. One of my cousins had her child watching these things 5-6 hours a day because she could get things done and felt he'd get smarter for it, that is really just sad.
Posted by: April | November 12, 2009 at 01:24 PM