Baby Einstein and Other Infant Product Bamboozles

[sweeps]

The parent trap

[cschin4]

I don't buy "educational" toys. I think that is idiotic. A toy is meant to be a fun diversion. And, children can make up their own worlds without some adult doing it for them. I think most of this "educational" stuff is a big waste of money. My kids have all their lives to "get educated" whatever that means. And, frankly, I am more concerned and interested that they grow up to be kind, decent human beings than I am in their SAT scores. So, I am probably in the minority here.
And, recently, I read a study that said kids who were average students earned just as much money as the kids who excelled. So, my message to them is to live a balanced life. Work hard, but also have fun. Life is not a race but a marathon. And, being a plumber or a carpenter is as valuable to society as an MBA or other degree.

[PrincessPerky]

While I totally agree that 'luxury' blankets do no better of a job than the cheap one I have..I do feel some educational toys are helpful...your kid will learn from a toy no matter what (that is how a brain is designed) the only difference between so called 'educational' and 'other' toys is what tends to be learned from the toy...a toy Minnie mouse tends to teach a kid minnie mouse, big ears, pretty pink polka dots.- if mom dad big sister ect names them.

A toy animal with letters on the shirt instead of polka dots tends to teach, the same ears mouth....the letters will only help them learn the letters if mom or dad names them....

So don't waste your money on things you are not going to name for your kid. (toys that talk are annoying to parents and kids alike....kids ignore the babble, parents pray for the batteries to die!)

There's also a misunderstanding of what's worthwhile to do with your child and what's not. Doing the things that our supposedly neglectful parents did, like toting us around town, from the dry cleaner to the grocery store, that's all incredibly informative and worthwhile for kids. It's better to do that with your kid than plant them on the floor with a Fisher-Price learning table that has 25 noise-making buttons, while you're checking your e-mail.

my favorite paragraph...