It'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. --Doug Thomas
More Albums by Various Artists
Various Artists "Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics, Vol. 2"
$4.08
Dance! Twist! Clap! Encouraging playful discovery of movement and more! -- Celebrates babies' discoveries of movement -- Encourages use of developing motor skills
Within the first year of babies' lives, their motor skills begin to kick into high gear as they explore ways to physically interact with the world around them. Baby's First Moves is a playful celebration of their movement milestones -- including first steps, clapping, jumping, dancing, and more -- that invites parents and little ones to share in these fun-filled experiences together and discover how movement enriches physical strength, builds self-confidence, and encourages natural curiosity. You and your baby will want to join in at home as happy babies show off their best moves accompanied by delightful puppet shows and real-world images set to the beautiful classical music of Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart.
DVD Features -- Repeat play -- Language tracks (Spanish, French and English) -- Discovery cards -- Let's pretend -- Puppet shows -- Move with me -- Toy chest -- About Little Einsteins (Available in French and English only)
Various Artists "Baby Einstein - Baby Wordsworth - First Words - Around the House"
$9.75
Original List Price: $19.99
You Save: $10.24 (51%)
Category: Children's Music
Record Label: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Disney
A playful introduction to words and sign language! -- Introduces little ones to words and sign language -- Taps in to little ones' natural curiosity
As their communication skills continue to develop, little ones begin to recognize common words and may point to objects or pictures when these items are named. Baby Wordsworth playfully taps into your little one's natural curiosity and introduces 30 words from around the home -- both spoken and in sign language. This engaging program presents little ones with familiar objects in the kitchen, playroom, yard and more -- from the living room window to their favorite teddy bear.
Join special guest Marlee Matlin as she demonstrates the concept of nonverbal communication. Also featuring a delightful blend of real-world images, adorable puppet shows and beautiful classical music, Baby Wordsworth is an interactive guide to an exciting world of fun and discovery that you and your child can share -- right under your very own roof!
DVD Features -- Repeat play -- Language tracks (Spanish, French and English) -- Discovery cards -- Signing with baby -- The alphabet (in sign language) -- Story time with Violet's House -- Toy chest -- What will we find? -- Puppet shows
Various Artists "Baby Einstein: Traveling Melodies"
$4.41
A playful introduction to the four seasons through art and music! -- Introduces babies to the sights and sounds of the four seasons -- Exposes little ones to famous Monet masterpieces
As babies grow and change, so does the landscape around them. From fiery red leaves to falling snowflakes; from flowers in bloom to fireworks in July, every season of the year has its own special magic just waiting to be discovered. BABY MONET takes little ones on a sight-and-sound-filled journey through spring, summer, fall and winter using playful puppet shows, real images of nature, children, toys, and masterpieces by Claude Monet set to excerpts from composer Antonio Vivaldi's timeless "The Four Seasons." This virtual breath of fresh air lets you and your baby share the beauty of each season as you explore its wonders together!
DVD Features -- Repeat play -- Language tracks (Spanish, French and English) -- Discovery cards -- A look at the seasons -- Puppet shows -- Toy chest
Various Artists "Baby Einstein - Baby Noah - Animal Expedition"
$4.99
Two by two...a musical introduction to animals around the world! -- Introduces animal names and sounds -- Encourages interactive play
As little ones become better acquainted with the world, they grow curious about animals of all kinds, beyond just the family pet. And as their communication skills continue to develop, they enjoy imitating animal sounds as well. Baby Noah Animal Expedition takes your little explorer across the globe to meet animals -- two-by-two -- from the savannah, the rainforest and tropics, the Outback, the ocean and the Polar Regions. With its unique video "lift-the-flap" format, adroable puppet shows and delightful music, this exciting program invites parents and babies on a fun-filled safari that encourages vocal participation and interactive play. Get ready to meet lions, tigers, dolphins, koalas, penguins and more. It's a wide, wonderful world out there, and there's nothing more rewarding than discovering it together!
DVD Features -- Repeat play -- Language tracks (Spanish, French and English) -- Discovery cards -- Guess the animal -- Talk like the aniamls -- Puppet shows -- About Little Einsteins (Available in French and English only)
Various Artists "Baby Einstein - Baby Da Vinci - From Head to Toe"
$9.65
Expressive faces and the exploration of arms, legs, and other body parts simply fascinate babies and toddlers. From Head to Toe focuses in on eyes, ears, hands, and other appendages with rapidly changing, close-up photography of real-life children alternating with puppetry, toys, animals, and sculptures and paintings by famous artists. Accompanying the vivid images are whimsical versions of classical pieces by famous composers like Bach, Handel, and Corelli, made kid-friendly by the "Music Box Orchestra," as well as the traditional "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." Baby Einstein videos are famous for this tried-and-true format that appeals to the limited attention span of very young viewers while encouraging cognitive development--the visual mix and pace in this presentation are especially effective. DVD features include language tracks in English, Spanish, and French; pictorial discovery cards with written and spoken words; an exploration of the five senses; puppet segments excerpted from the show; a read-aloud version of the book Mimi's Toes; and a listing of featured toys. (Ages 9 to 36 months) --Tami Horiuchi
Various Artists "Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics"
$3.29
The beauty of this entry in the Baby Einstein catalog is its integration of puppets, toys, and live farm footage to help babies and toddlers make the connection between their plastic play sets and stuffed animals with images of a real farm. As always, the spoken language is minimal, omitting the pesky verbs and adjectives that would confuse the very young. The 30-minute main program is divided into sections: barns and equipment, animals, planting crops, and harvesting. Background music ranges from "Old MacDonald" to Schumann, and DVD extras include a 6-minute puppet show and visual "discovery cards" identifying animals and farm paraphernalia with a single word. (Ages 6 months to 3 years) --Kimberly Heinrichs
Various Artists "Baby Einstein - Numbers Nursery"
$13.78
A playful and interactive introduction to numbers! -- Exposes little ones to the concept of counting -- Reinforces number recognition using simple patterns
Between 12 and 24 months, little ones become increasingly interested in more complex ideas and begin to explore numbers and counting. Numbers Nursery introduces little ones to numerals 1 through 5 in a captivating, interactive way that invites them to join in, clap their hands and count out loud. Using baby-friendly images of brightly colored toys, plus puppets, children and familiar real-world objects set to beautiful music, this dynamic program is a fun and age-appropriate way for you and your child to discover the exciting world of numbers and counting together!
DVD Features -- Repeat play -- Language tracks (Spanish, French and English) -- Discovery cards - Count 1 to 10 in seven languages -- Count-along activities -- How many? -- Story time with See and Spy Counting book -- Toy chest
Various Artists "Baby Einstein: Baby Mozart"
$3.69
Of all the reasons you'll click the Add to Shopping Cart button next to Baby Einstein's Baby Mozart--and there are many--the best one is that playing this record for babies doesn't feel weird. Instead of subjecting tiny, tender ears to the kind of Mozart that can make adult classical fans wilt when tackled by a maestro who means business, this is Mozart lite, mixed and mastered by a dad, Bill Weisbach, who's clearly hung around for his share of crib-side cooing. The slightly tinny sound of a child's piano sweeps the sting out of Piano Sonata in B Flat's third movement; the first movement of Concerto for Flute and Harp in C floats by, birdlike; variations on "Ah vous dirai-je, Maman" translate to a fancy-sounding (but adorable) "Twinkle, Twinkle"; and Piano Sonata in F's third movement snuggles so deeply into its childlike setting that if you close your eyes, you'll see a pastel parade of animals floating by overhead. Other pieces (more aptly called fragments, since only one track stretches beyond the three-minute mark), like Symphony No. 41's fourth movement, wander into more robust Mozart territory, but it's here the claims about classical music enhancing young kids' abstract reasoning skills and spatial intelligence crystallize. Babies strapped in for a roller coaster of sounds that gracefully dips, swerves, and high-jumps like this version, do have to process what they're hearing somehow (and a case could be made that the instruments Weisbach's chosen--the vibraphone, glockenspiel, and music box among them--make it more appealing for them to do so). Followers of Julie Aigner-Clark's Baby Einstein empire, many of whom opted out of the fan club once Disney bought the company in 2001, won't trip over a single Mickey Mouse-ified sound here. This is pure, plugged in, and muted Mozart, and if it doesn't make your baby smarter, it'll at least sound awfully sweet issuing from your nursery's speakers. --Tammy La Gorce
Various Artists "Baby Einstein - Baby Van Gogh - World of Colors"
$9.25
The 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. --Doug Thomas
