Infant Education Controversy
Read about being a mother of 12 as our resident 'Supermom'
shares her wise parenting advice.
There's a wealth of products on the market that claim to raise your
infant's IQ. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of being a new
parent, but how much of the publicity surrounding these products is
hype? Being familiar with the issues can help you sort things out.
Read to your baby
Does reading aloud to your baby increase his intelligence? A six month
old baby whose mother read to him from the time he was still in utero was found
to score higher on tests relating to literacy skills, such as book and print
awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension. These skills are the necessary building
blocks for learning how to read and write. So, go ahead, read to your baby.
It's proven.
The Mozart Effect
What about the Mozart Effect, the idea that spawned an entire series of
infant videotapes? The term was coined in 1992 when researchers discovered that
students did better on math exams while listening to Mozart. This was heady
stuff, and it was only natural for parents to wonder if music could have the
same effect on an infant's brain. It was found that the first year is critical
to the development of a baby's brain. It's a case of use it or lose it: if the
synapses aren't used, they die. So, while it hasn't been proven that Mozart can
raise your baby's IQ, it is now known that there is a correlation between math,
music, and brain function. The Princeton Review recommends that the optimal
time to expose your baby to music is from birth to four years.
Does it have to be Mozart? Some studies do suggest that the votes go to
Mozart above all other composers, but find that other types of music also
improve brain function. The upshot: don't invest in pricey CD sets but set
your radio to a local classical music station. Your baby can chill out to a sonata while you prepare supper.
Audio-visual material for infants?
What about audio-visual material for infants? In 2006, the creators of Sesame Street
released a line of DVDs for children as young as six months, infuriating many
experts, who cite a recommendation by the American Academy
of Pediatrics that such material is unsuitable for children under the age of
two. The experts were concerned that the DVDs might spawn a rash of similar
products.
The makers of the DVDs claim that babies under the age of two are already
spending an average of two hours a day plunked in front of the TV; they're just
trying to give them a better experience. However, the experts aren't convinced
that this is a worthy product. In general, parents should avoid exposure to TV
and other audio-visual material for infants under the age of two.
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