Baby Mediagraphy
Parents have a responsibility to provide a stimulating environment for their child. A child learns more in the first few years of life than any other. Statistics even suggest that children can grow from information heard while sleeping. As a parent myself I know that I canít stimulate my young child twenty-four hours a day. So I must find products that are fun and entertaining for my child to engage in while I am tending to household responsibilities. Since I know parents want to expose their children to a wide variety of engaging experiences, there would be a great need for these resources in many collections. One collection created from the Baby Einstein series alone will give children a plethora of amazing experiences. I have already started my own home collection of these developmental videos and CDís. Other collections that this Mediagraphy is aimed at are daycares, public libraries, preschools and churches.
Since infants and toddlers are unable to read, the logical formats to choose are audio and video items. These items must be colorful, musical, entertaining, and informative. Items should be critically acclaimed and recommended by parents. Both audio and video media will be chosen to meet the needs of a sleeping child, car rides and visual stimulation. Since children love to hear their parentsí voices, I have included a couple of interesting books as well.
I have chosen several items from the Baby Einstein series. It was originally a video series created by a parent (Julie Aigner-Clark) for her child. Disney now owns this company and has videos, DVDís, software, music CDís, books, toys and flashcards in the series. These products have been recommended by parents and have won several awards.
The first must have item is Baby Einstein:Language Nursery. Perf. Julie Aigner-Clark. Ages birth to 2 years. ëThrough rhymes, songs, and counting, children are exposed to the sounds of seven different languagesí. Videocassette. Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2000. It comes in the following formats CD, DVD and videotape. The videotape is the best deal because the CD comes with it for free. The video can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005YUPM/qid=1045098801/sr=10-2/ref=sr_10_/103-8176408-5647830?v=glance&s=baby for $13.99. The CD as well as the video demonstrates the alphabet, numbers 1-20, poetry and songs in English, Spanish, Hebrew, French, Russian, Japanese and German. This video won the Video of t he Year Award by Parenting magazine.
In my opinion, this is a great way for my child to hear the unique sounds of other languages and hopefully make it easier for my daughter to grasp other languages if she so chooses.
ìIf you've
been around babies in the last few years, you've seen these newfangled toys
that are abstract in color (or just black, white, and red) and make curious,
crunching noises. Studies have shown that these types of toys stimulate
newborns, expanding the capacity of their little sponge-like minds. That
concept comes to the video age in Baby Einstein. This 30-minute tape is called a
"video board book" and the creators instruct parents of 1- to
18-month-olds to use it that way: huddle around the TV often pointing out
objects and interacting with the child as you would with a book. Bright toys,
patterns, blocks, and the like move across the screen accompanied by natural
sounds, music, and voices. English, Japanese, Russian, German, and other
languages are heard telling nursery rhymes or counting to 20. Now the creators
don't expect your baby to recite "Humpty Dumpty" in Spanish by the
end of the tape, but, as they state in the introduction, hearing different
languages invigorates a baby's mind. These educators went on to combine
classical music with their program on Baby Mozart and Baby Bach. --Doug Thomas
--This text refers to the VHS
Tape edition.î Amazon.com.
The second must have item is Baby Einstein:Baby Mosart. Perf. Julie Aigner-Clark, Ages birth to 3 years. Real-world images are shown while listening to Mozart. DVD. Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2000. It can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005YUPN/qid=1045108668/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8176408-5647830?v=glance&s=dvd#product-details for $14.99. This video promotes the music of Mozart while watching real life objects on the TV screen. The DVD features a bonus music soundtrack and electronic Language Discovery Cards. It is also available in VHS. It was voted Video of the Year in Child and Parenting Magazines in the 1998 version. In order to insure a variety of materials are available I personally would recommend this item. Here are a couple of the reviews of this video. ëIt's called "the Mozart Effect," the notion that exposing youngsters to the melodies of the maestro can improve verbal ability, spatial intelligence, creativity, and memory. It's a pretty big leap of faith to understand that effect unless you personally see a toddler react to the stimulation. The Baby Einstein folks have a series of tapes (Baby Einstein, Baby Bach) that add visual stimulation to the bouncy recordings (using vibraphone, Rhodes electric piano, and even a glockenspiel). The melodies are heard against colorful imagery of spinning tops, wave machines, soft baby toys, mobiles, and the like. Several parenting groups and magazines have heralded the tapes for children 1 to 36 months, but the Orwellian aspect of introducing babes in arms to the TV screen may cause many to just pick up the CD.í --Doug Thomas-- Amazon.com
ëThis is a great tape/DVD for parents who (this may be hard to admit) occasionally need a break from their child! I first showed this tape to my colicky baby when she was three months old. She loved it. And I nearly cried with relief. It gave me a half-hour break to go to the bathroom, put the laundry in the dryer, maybe even take a shower.í Lisa Kremer, parent from Tacoma, Washington.
The third must have item is Baby Einstein: Baby Shakespeare. Perf. Julie Aigner-Clark. Ages 1-4. ëChildren are introduced to poetry through the words of twelve master poets, accompanied by delightful puppet shows and music.í DVD. Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2000. It can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005YUPP/qid=1045154892/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8176408-5647830?v=glance&s=dvd#product-details for $16.99. I know from personal experience and from what experts say that children learn to read and speak much easier when they experience rhyming words. This is a definite for the development of young minds.
ëThe fourth "video board book" from the Baby
Einstein folks is their most engaging product yet. Aimed at slightly older
audiences (ages 1 to 4), Baby Shakespeare combines poetry with the usual
mix of festive classical music, bright objects, and happy thoughts designed to
stimulate young minds. This video is aimed at exposing little tykes to the
language context. Twelve words (grass, tree, etc.) are explored in pictures and
poem form with plenty of playful stops for kids singing their ABC's and
close-ups of brightly colored toys in action. Older kids can follow the poetry
in a beautiful enclosed picture book of poem text and sharp outdoor
photography. We even meet Baby Einstein's first host: a dragon puppet named
Bard, who (along with his friends) playfully participates in the action. He
deserves a repeat performance.í --Doug Thomas Amazon.com
ëI
work at a daycare and my group of 2-3 year-olds are in love with the Baby
Einstein videos, CDís and books that I have for them. Theyíre having so much
fun they donít even realize theyíre learning.íóFrom Baby Einstein brochure.
The fourth must have item is Baby
Einstein : Baby Van Gogh. Perf. Julie Aigner-Clark. Ages 1-4. ëThe
hilarious Vincent Van Goat puppet introduces toddlers to colors through the art
of Vincent Van Gogh, combined with poetry and classical music. Features bonus
sound track and electronic coloring book.í DVD. Walt Disney Home Entertainment,
2000. It can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005YUPQ/qid=1045156421/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8176408-5647830?v=glance&s=dvd
for $16.99. I like both the video and Baby Van Gogh book. The artwork is
fantastic. It would have to encourage the young artist at heart!
ëThe Baby
Einstein Company's "video board books" were designed as music-focused
developmental tools to stimulate babies' brains (prompted by research proving
that exposure to classical melodies can improve verbal ability, spatial
intelligence, creativity, and memory in youngsters). Now the company is
expanding into other art forms, including color and art. The idea remains the
same--taking bold, beautiful objects (toys, puppets, nature scenes) and setting
them to fun renditions of classical music (their recordings are easily the best
in the crowded field of child development). A new puppet--Vincent Van
Goat--introduces the six primary colors and associates them with Van Gogh's
paintings--"The Starry Night" for blue, "Wheat Fields with
Reaper" for yellow. The only misstep is the poetry written and read by
creator Julie Aigner-Clark, which is strongly reminiscent of Dr. Seuss's My
Many Colored Days. The company suggests the program is for toddlers
between the ages of 1 and 4. Harsh sounds between segments--such as balloons
popping and tires screeching--will draw the attention of youngsters but will
probably render the video inappropriate for babes in arms. The video can be
purchased by itself or with a beautifully produced 28-page book featuring Van
Gogh's paintings, screen shots from the video, and Clark's poems. The
combination set may be the best way to engage 3- and 4-year-olds' interest;
they can follow along in the text while watching the video. Music includes
"The William Tell Overture," "The Blue Danube,"
"Bolero," and Brahms's "Lullaby." The video also provides
information on the cool toys seen in the ending "Toy Chest" segment.í
--Doug Thomas--
Amazon.com essential video.
ëMy daughter (15 months) literally laughs out loud at some of the scenes in this DVD. She held her belly and laughed hysterically for one scene in particular (the popping of the balloons). We have a few of the other Baby Einstein videos, but mom and dad love this one due to our daughter's laughter - we can listen to her laugh all day and night. She also loves the music and the bright colors, as well as "Vincent Van Goat!" We highly recommend.í ñ Amy McFarland-- Coatesville, PA.
The fifth must have item is Baby
Einstein : Baby Newton. Perf. Julie Aigner-Clark. Ages 1-3. ëPlayful
puppets take children on a field trip through a shape-filled world featuring
musical selections from Vivaldi.í Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2001. It can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/dvd/B000063V8I/reviews/qid=1045156984/sr=8-4/ref=sr_8_4/103-8176408-5647830
for $16.99. This video earned a Parentsí Choice recommendation.
This video highlights puppets and automation to entertain a toddler that makes
this video unique from the others in the series. That is why I feel it must be
part of the collection.
ëWith the Van Gogh, Dolittle, and other Baby programs under their belts, the
tots who follow Julie Aigner-Clark's Baby Einstein series will sidle up to Baby
Newton
expecting a similar exploration of building blocks to brilliance, but this time
there's a wrinkle or two. Animation makes its first appearance, and parents
steeped in keep-it-simple culture may object to the springy "I Know My
Shapes" song, a departure from classical-only video predecessors.
Otherwise, the tried-and-true genius launchers of titles past pop up
anew--Vivaldi floats through each of five shape segments, and clever puppet
shows play quickly and infrequently enough to captivate the under-2 crowd.
Plus, talk about well rounded: Clark covers the bases, showing off triangular
sails drifting toward the sunset one second and geometric patterns the next.
Play it for a departure from skill-building standbys like pop-up books and
plastic sorters for ages 1 to 3.í --Tammy La Gorce --Amazon.com
The sixth must have item is Baby Einstein : Neighborhood Animals. Perf. Julie Aigner-Clark. Ages 1-4. ëPavlov the Dog hosts a series of twelve delightful vignettes, each dedicated to an animal children find close to home. Features bonus classical music soundtrack and electronic Animal Discovery Cards.í DVD. Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2001. It can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006SFM2/qid=1045158253/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8176408-5647830?v=glance&s=dvd for $14.99. Children love animals and this video gives the children a chance to see them whenever they want. I canít wait until my daughter learns about animals through this video.
ëWhen Baby Einstein started its "video board
books" in 1997, the company was virtually alone in the field of baby
development. By its sixth video, the field has become crowded with
similar-sounding titles. Now scientists might be able to analyze what a baby
will get out of a video like Baby Dolittle compared to Baby Van Gogh, but is it worth getting more
baby videos? Absolutely--babies love variety as much as their adult
counterparts. On that level, Baby Dolittle scores. The theme of animals is a
natural, and this show should cause squeals of delight from little ones 1 to 4
years old. Using a stimulating mix of brightly colored toys, whimsical puppets
(including your host, Pavlov the Dog), and lots of pictures, Baby Dolittle takes the viewer on a 30-minute
tour of commonly found animals. Help your little pal spot a pig on the farm or
a dog in the house. Baby Dolittle uses animals' sounds, kids' drawings, and
photography for each animal in four habitats. The natural settings and
original, bright recordings of Beethoven, Rimsky-Korsakov, Vivaldi, and others
should make this a favorite every time you want to visit Old MacDonald's Farm.
Followed by a companion production, Baby Dolittle World Animals.í --Doug Thomas ñ Amazon.com
The seventh must have item is Baby
Einstein : World Animals. Perf. Julie Aigner-Clark. Ages 1-4. ë Jane the
Monkey hosts a series of nine vignettes each featuring an animal found in one
of three habitats; the jungle, the savannah, or the ocean. Features bonus
classical music soundtrack and electronic Animal Discovery Cards.í DVD. Walt
Disney Home Entertainment, 2001. It can be
purchased at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006SFM1/qid=1045160082/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8176408-5647830?v=glance&s=dvd
for $16.99. This video shows the child about animals they have seen at the zoo.
What a great way to use repetition through real life and this video to learn
about the animals of the World.
ëSince early on, the Baby Einstein
Company's mission has been to expose young children to the "greatest forms
of human expression"--language, poetry, art, and music. Since receiving
widespread acclaim for such solid programs as Baby Bach and Baby Mozart, the company has made a natural
progression into another expressive realm--the animal kingdom--with its Baby
Dolittle
series. Neighborhood Animals was the first foray into critter country followed by
this exquisite sequel, World Animals, introducing youngsters, ages 1 to 4 years old, to
the wonder, beauty, and hilarity of earth's creatures. In this 30-minute
program, viewers journey to three natural animal habitats--jungle, ocean, and
savannah--to watch tigers prowl, elephants romp, and giraffes glide with grace.
They'll meet zebras, lemurs, starfish, and squirrels, toucans, pandas, and
bears in footage both stunning and whimsical. Catering to the short attention
span of its viewers, the video seamlessly flows from live action footage to
colorful puppet segments (starring Jane the monkey) using engaging stage props
(like a giant bubble blower) and kids' drawings. Animal paw prints morph into
words and finally photos so that children learn to recognize the various
animals while laughing out loud at their antics--monkeys swinging, dolphins
diving, and sea turtles swimming. Requisite classical music accompanies the
action, including symphonies by Dvor·k and Mendelssohn, along with an
assortment of kid-friendly songs. Expect repeat play of this lovely,
captivating video from a production company that continues to outdo itself.í --Lynn
Gibson ñ Amazon.com
The eighth must have item is Baby Einstein : Baby Santaís Music Box. Perf. Julie Aigner-Clark. Ages 1-4. ëTake children on a magical excursion through the holidays. Blinking lights, stockings, presents, happy children, and jolly Santas bring to life the sights and sounds of the holiday season. Features bonus Holiday Classics music tracks. DVD. Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2000. This item can be purchased at https://www.babyeinstein.com/B2C/index.cgi?PSP_NEXT=Catalog&SESSION_ID=36-1045271809-16761&ProductCategory:PAGE_NUM=1 for $16.99. My daughter smiles at the children on the Baby Einstein videos. These videos prove themselves by hundreds of parental recommendations. These are all available at Amazon.com. I have never seen anything so widely recommended as these videos.
ëAdults familiar with Baby
Einstein
educational videos understand the concept behind the company's products.
Studies show that repeated exposure to pleasant images and sounds will create
greater brain capacity in wee ones, as neurons become connected in the brain's
auditory cortex. (And you thought you were just playing with your child.) Here,
in time for Christmas, Baby Einstein takes a holiday breather. In Baby Santa's Music
Box, the
stimulation is similar, yet the learning is not quite so intentional--a relief
for those of us a bit intimidated with the Russian, Japanese, and French
introduced in the original film. No human words are spoken here. Rather, the
sights and sounds of Christmas are presented in a visual feast of whimsical,
happy scenes accompanied by seasonal music. From sledding and snowmen to
glowing candles and shimmering ornaments, dozens of animated and live-action
settings communicate the beauty and wonder of the holiday season. Penguin
puppets unwrap presents, ring bells, and toss tinsel. Santa's sleigh in a
gentle snowfall segues smoothly into a playful group of Christmas-clad
youngsters dancing to Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker." Kids decorate a
tree, twirl in stocking caps, and careen down a sledding hill. Throughout the
program, the Baby Einstein Music Box Orchestra performs soothing music from
Christmas carols and classical favorites to traditional melodies from around
the world. Infants and toddlers already sense the magic of Christmas. This
"video board book" will help them celebrate it.í --Lynn Gibson
ñAmazon.com
The ninth must have item is Baby Einstein : Baby Beethoven. Composer Ludwig van Beethoven. All ages. Includes Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Symphony No. 1 in C major, Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Bagatelle for piano in A minor, Symphony No. 5 in C minor, March for wind ensemble in F major, March for wind ensemble in F major, Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor plus 11 more titles. CD. Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2002. It can be purchased at http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=2W06PMGGWR&ean=50086076970 for $9.49. It won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award. I play this CD or Baby Bach on repeat every night. She goes to sleep within a few minutes without any fuss.
ëThe Baby Einstein series features definitive pieces from major
classical composers as performed by the Baby Einstein Music Box Orchestra. Baby
Beethoven represents the classical period,
presenting delicate, delightful performances of such pieces as "Minuet in
G," "Fur Elise, WoO 59," and "Symphony No. 5, Op. 67, 1st
Movement." The orchestra's flutes, harps, synths, percussion, and, of
course, music boxes provide an interesting contrast to the often dramatic
nature of Beethoven's
work. A charming album, Baby Beethoven offers many moods and sounds, as well as a creative way to introduce
very young children to these timeless melodies.í Heather Phares-- All Music GuideóBarnes and Noble.
The tenth must have item is Baby Einstein : Baby Bach. Composer Johann Sebastian Bach. All ages. Includes Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, Sonata for flute & keyboard in E flat major, Suite for orchestra No 3 in D major, Cantata No. 147 plus 11 others. CD. Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2002. It can be purchased at
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=2W06PMGGWR&ean=50086076871 for $9.49. This selection won the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval. I have played this CD in the car when my daughter is awake and I think she tries o sing along. I love hearing her coo.
ëThe "Baby Einstein" series features definitive pieces from major classical composers as performed by the Baby Einstein Music Box Orchestra. Representing the Baroque period is Baby Bach, which presents delicate, delightful performances of such pieces as "Minuet in G," "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," "2-Part Invention," and movements from Brandenburg Concerto as well as excerpts of Goldberg Variations. The orchestra's flutes, harps, synths, percussion, and, of course, music boxes offer plenty of musical colors that complement the complex nature of Baroque music perfectly while giving it a distinctly innocent, childlike feel. A charming album, Baby Bach offers many moods and sounds as well as a creative way to introduce very young children to these timeless melodies.í Heather PharesóAll Music GuideóBarnes and Noble
ëI selected this CD when the music store I was in did not have Baby Mozart, the one I had heard about. Now that I have both I can say that this one, Baby Bach, is my favorite. The music is not quite as music-box-like as the Mozart CDso you and baby can listen to it a million times without tiring of any selection.í ñ Amazon.com
I
would add this Board Book to the collection as well. Baby Einstein : Van
Goghís World of Color. Illustrated by Vincent Van Gogh and Nadeem Zaidi. Ages 18 months and up. ëChildren explore six colors
through a series of extraordinary paintings by Vincent Van Gogh.í New York : Hyperion
Press, 2001. ISBN 0786808055. It can be
purchased at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0786808055/qid%3D1045273697/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-8176408-5647830#product-details
for $7.99.
ëColorful die-cut tabs on the side
of Van Gogh's World of Color correlate to actual artwork from the painter and
invite youngsters to study color concepts. Critical questions and quotes appear
on each spread. "Orange," for example, shows the painting Fourteen
Sunflowers in a Vase and asks "Why do you think these flowers are called
sunflowers?" The tabbed pages of Poems for Little Ones link familiar
objects with the works of famous poets. "Grass" places an excerpt
from Tennessee Williams's "Heavenly Grass" alongside a photograph of
sunlight warming thick blades. Below, text questions "How do you think
this grass would feel under your bare feet?" and implores readers to
"think of words that rhyme with `grass.' " (Oct. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.)-- From Publishers Weekly
Another good book to include is Baby Einstein : Poems for Little Ones. Concept by Julie Aigner-Clark and Baby Einstein. Illust. Nadeem Zaidi. Photography J.D. Marston. Ages 18 months and up. ëBeautiful, classic poems by the likes of William Shakespeare and Langston Hughes are paired with stunning images by an award-winning photographer. The book emphasizes vocabulary building, playful language, and the wonders of nature, and serves as a child-friendly introduction to poetry.í New York : Hyperion Press, 2001. ISBN 0786808071. It can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0786808071/qid=1045505782/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8176408-5647830?v=glance&s=books for $7.99.
ëThis book is a wonderful introduction to great poems. Each page has a vivid photograph of an object depicted in the poem on the facing page. Below the photo are two questions to provoke discussion. Very young children like my daughter will like to turn the pages and look at the pictures, and you may only be able to say what the object is. However, as the attention span gets longer you'll be able to read the poems to your child more often, and eventually you can even discuss the questions. We are really enjoying this book!í ñ Kathy Livingston ñ Amazon.com
In addition to the items above, parents can purchase other items that correspond to this collection. They include Discovery Cards (flashcards), puppets (like the characters in the videos), other toys and soon a CD-ROM game called Baby Einstein : Fun With Shapes. These items along with parent testimonials, and product details and demos are available at www.babyeinstein.com. I can attest to the quality of these products! My 11-week old daughter is cooing to one of the videos right now. I could not get this project without the videos help! The DVD has a repeat play function. It is awesome.
A great promotional idea for this series would be a puppet show held at the library using the characters in the videos (the puppets are available at babyeinatein.com). Parents and toddlers will love them so much they will all fly off the shelves.
Appendix :
Marc Record
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(Copied from OCLC)
Created by:
Jennifer Graham
02/18/2003