Take that, Baby Einstein

[velvetpage]

There's no evidence that playing Mozart to a newborn makes them smarter.

I play classical music around my house because i like it. I sing songs and play games with my children because we all enjoy it. It's the interaction, the use of high-level linguistic and cognitive skills, and the physical activity, that develop their brains. The best way to encourage a child's intellectual development is to play with them, talk to them, sing to them, and engage them in activities that you both enjoy. If you're doing that, it won't matter if the music is Mozart or Metallica - it will still benefit them.

Thanks sassy_fae for the link.

Comments

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

Well, it is, after all, produced by Disney.

[blue-comet.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I'm really avoiding the Disney while he's small. When he's bigger I won't be such a stickler about it, but I just don't think it's healthy for him to develop attachments to Disney characters as an infant.

I have a friend with an autistic child (she's 13 now) who is OBSESSED with the Disney Princesses. The sheer intensity of her obsession, and the amount of money they spend on crap to fulfill her obsession, horrifies me on so many levels.

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

I didn't start it - I can blame my brother for that - but Elizabeth is quite into Disney. I suppose I can't blame a single guy too much for feeling that the best place to shop for little girls is the Disney Store, and I think I can counter any negative messages she gets that way over time. Really, though, I prefer the Barbie movies. They still have princesses, but the princesses save themselves from the bad guys, get married to the commoners of their dreams, and still manage to fulfil their dreams of studying science. I can live with that.