Concern over Sesame DVDs
By Tina Benitez -- Playthings, 4/10/2006 8:29:00 AM
NEW YORK—What kind of harm could Baby Big Bird, Baby Elmo or Baby Cookie Monster possibly do? According to some child development experts, lots.
The new line of infant DVDs from Sesame Beginnings, a division of Sesame Workshop, features popular Sesame characters as babies in various activity with their parents. The DVDs are meant to help parents begin developmental activities with their baby before the age of 3, but according to the the American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, Ill., watching TV can stall early child development, particularly before the age of 3, and such edutainment products, a term used to describe educational products for children that offer some entertainment value, only encourage parents to leave their child in front of a television of "X" number of hours.Rosemarie Truglio, Sesame Workshop’s vice president research and development tells Playthings.com that the DVDs are meant to be used by parent and child to perform various, basic developmental activities together. 
“This DVD is unlike anything else that’s out there on the marketplace, because the goal of DVD is to convey and model how parents and childcare givers can turn everyday moments into teachable moments,” says Truglio. “The series was designed with adults in mind as an appealing experience to share with their child. "We did not go into this market impulsively," she adds. "It took many years research, discussing with child development consultants, and we were careful in our approach and diligent in modeling the different developmental stages and how parents can optimize their interactive time with children.”
The Sesame Beginnings series was developed with the non-profit child development advisory board of Zero to Three, Washington, over a four-year period. “There’s no research that takes the point of view that proves that there should be no screen time. In light of statistics that 68 percent of kids are watching TV on average two hours a day, what are they watching? The content is not there. We decided to be responsible and create experience that could be shared with the adult since parents are more comfortable with media. It’s not meant to convert children under 2 years to watch TV. Children under 2 years are also watching Sesame Street, which is not age-appropriate—it’s for the preschool age. We wanted to give them something age-appropriate.”
Dr. Tanya Altmann, a pediatrician in Westlake Village, Calif., and spokesperson for the AAP, tells playthings.com that the AAP recommends no TV for children under the age of 2, because the first two years of life are critical for brain development.
“Everything that an infant is exposed to can significantly affect his development,” she said. “Spending time with your infant is one of the most important things a parent can do to ensure that their child's brain develops in the best possible way. Infants learn so much more reading books, playing on the ground and singing with you than they do from a video. Not to mention that TV is a major factor leading to childhood obesity and decreased school performance so why start your child with a bad habit at this young and vulnerable of an age.”
Altmann adds that such products have little value for infant development. “These videos have no educational benefits to children under age 2. Studies have shown that a child can not learn anything from a TV screen, yet if they are exposed to the exact same thing (such as a person speaking a foreign language) live in front of them the language and images will be picked up by their brain and they will learn and remember a portion of the material. Other studies have shown that in order for children to learn they need to use several of their senses. When you read a book to your child they can hear your voice, see the colors in the pictures, touch the pages and even mouth it. This will stimulate brain development and foster learning.”
Truglio adds that the Sesame Beginnings series, which launches this April with titles “Beginning Together” and “Make Music Together,” should not be placed in the same categories as some “edutainment” products in the market.
“It’s very different from everything else in marketplace. We’re not making learning claims,” she says. “The effects [of DVD] are not with the baby directly. The educational impact is on adults watching. They are learning songs and activities to use during the routine moments of baby life. There are no claims on the viewing affect on the child alone.”
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