Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Seriously, Kids Need Less TV: Disney Offers "Baby Einstein" Refunds

I was watching TV the other day (admittedly, lowering my IQ while doing so), and saw one of those "Your Child Can Read" commercials, which immediately suckered me in. Not so my wife, however, and that's where Baby Einstein refunds for their DVDs come in.

Walt Disney Company has admitted that no, watching TV really can't make your child into a genius, or at least, watching Baby Einstein DVDs can't. In order to avoid a lawsuit, Disney has agreed to refund the full purchase price to those who bought the videos between June 5, 2004 and September 4, 2009.

The Baby Einstein refunds were prompted by pressure from the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, which complained to the FTC about Disney's claims that the videos are educational.

You can get your Baby Einstein refund here. Alternatively, you can opt for One (1) Baby Einstein Book of your choice and One (1) Baby Einstein music CD of your choice, - Or - One (1) coupon for 25% off the purchase of one Little Einsteins product (redeemable with promotion code only at DisneyStore.com, which makes it less of a great deal). Disney was quick to state that the refund offer is not an admission that the company misled parents.

The best choice is probably the Baby Einstein refund. On Monday, Nielsen released new findings that said that children sit in front of TV for more than an entire day out of an average week. It makes sense. Remember the old, old days when Saturday morning cartoons were it, and the TV stations logged off at 1 AM or so? Those days are long gone, and kid programming is available 24 x 7 from multiple channels.
Ads by AdGenta.com

39 comments:

ryanmr said...

I wonder what kids these days are watching. I remember when I was younger, I would watch Saturday morning cartoons; during the rest of the week, there wasn't anything at all worth watching.

In my experience, the quality of programming on 'Cartoon Network' has gone down greatly in the past few years. As a child, I would only watch a few cartoons, a select few, mostly those that fell into the 'Adult Swim' block and those in Toonami. Anything else on that channel, like Cow and Chicken was worthless to me and I would move on to other things quickly, like going outside.

memory stick said...

I also wonder what kids are watching today. I remember when I was younger, I watched cartoons on Saturday morning, the rest of the week, there was nothing to see.

OrganicBabyProducts101.com said...

WOW. That's incredible - that they will refund WITHOUT receipts. Even to people who probably loved them and weren't expecting their children to turn into the next Einstein by watching them.Very informative posts, glad I found this site. Thanks!

Lorie Dabney said...

This is a great blog posting and very useful. I really appreciate the research you put into it

Danny DeMichele Photos said...

Usually I do not post on articles, but I would like to say that this blog really forced me to do so! Thanks, really nice article.

itcanhappen4u2.com said...

I complete agree with your sentences
"Seriously, Kids Need Less TV: Disney Offers "Baby Einstein" Refunds"TV rays are so harmful children's eyes...parents of their kids have to move their kids toward Baby Einstein..

California Tax Lawyers said...

Kids have no need to watch TV,it is harmful gor the instead of this they have to go for play or Disney "Baby Einstein"

Gatehouse Academy Reviews said...

Walt Disney Company has admitted that, watching TV can really can't make your child into a genius..

Josh Dachsteiner said...

Thanks for the information on blog. This information made my study easier.

Gatehouse Academy Reviews said...

Disney has agreed to refund the full purchase price.

PetCareRx Reviews said...

I agree with Mr.Nielsen,in his new released says that children sit in front of TV for more than an entire day out of an average week.

Ford Parts said...

Walt Disney Company has admitted that, watching TV really can make your child into a genius..

Roberts Cottages 20 said...

Even to people who probably loved them and weren't expecting their children to turn into the next Einstein by watching them.Very informative posts, glad I found this site.

Bob Eames said...

Nice information, many thanks to the author. It is incomprehensible to me now, but in general, the usefulness and significance is overwhelming. Thanks again and good luck!

Professor Prosperity said...

Even to people who probably loved them and weren't expecting their children to turn into the next Einstein by watching them.

Danny Demichele said...

It is incomprehensible to me now, but in general, the usefulness and significance is overwhelming.

Homesure Services said...

I completely agree with you kids needs less TV and I would like to say thanks to Einstein to provide this substitute..

WebVisible said...

Even to people who probably loved them and weren't expecting their children to turn into the next Einstein by watching them.

baby cribs said...

I am not agree,in current day kids many thing from TV don't shock its true...

ReputationManagers.com said...

I hope this step may be get a success to change the habits of children...

Pet Care Rx Reviews said...

It is incomprehensible to me now, but in general, the usefulness and significance is overwhelming. Thanks again and good luck!

Bathroom Living said...

Even to people who probably loved them and weren't expecting their children to turn into the next Einstein by watching them.Very informative posts, glad I found this site.

Bathroom Living said...

It is harmful gor the instead of this they have to go for play or Disney "Baby Einstein".

Max Furniture said...

I have to agree with most of the posters here. We used the Baby Einstein videos with our now 8 year old son. Did I park him in front of the TV with them all day? No. Did I watch a couple of sections from an Einstein video with him several times a week? Yes. Does he have any issues? No. Is he on target mentally for his age group? Yes. Is he a genius? No (but neither is his dad or I). Did I use it along with the play dough, crayons (washable, of course), and books as a learning tool? Yes. I think those of you who think we don't parent are not reading the posts. We aren't saying we use them in place of us, we are using them as one in an arsenal of tools to help our babies learn. I gave some to my cousin (her daughter is now 7), and have loaned all of mine to my sister (my nephew is 11 weeks). I think the responsible use of the Baby Einstein videos is fine. I guess my sister and I should hang on to the videos, though. If the CCFC has it's way, they may become collector's items some day!

AMEN TO THAT!!! Weve done the loaning out too, and everyone that we have loaned our collection to has been very happy with the results.

pontiac 6000 parts said...

Anything else on that channel, like Cow and Chicken was worthless to me and I would move on to other things quickly..Thanks

Gaia Saunas said...

I think the responsible use of the Baby Einstein videos is fine. I guess I should hang on to the videos, though.

Home Protect Home Warranty said...

i guess that so many of the people making up the population, have to think everything they read is completely and truthfully accurate for each and every one of their kids? Face the facts; some kids are plain dumb, nothing will change it. while some kids are natural geniuses, nothing to change it. But the vast majority of the kids have the potential to build on their mental capacity when PROPERLY introduced and taught about many things, there are ways to change this for better or for the worse. Baby einstein being for the better when used responsibly; or for the worse when used carelessly...

Positive Quotes said...

Obviously there is much argument for whether or not BE is educational - however, it is a great tool for any Mom who wants to get some cleaning done, get a shower or just get a 30 minute break!

California Tax Lawyers said...

Unethical advertising, especially when it involves children, is irresponsible to society as a whole, whether it is Baby Einstein or Supersizing McDonald's or smoking. That is what I believe this campaign is trying to get across. There is a lot of "real-life" mom evidence but no scientific evidence that Baby Einstein creates geniuses, so Disney should have never used a mirage of scientific factoids of to sell their products.

240SX parts said...

Face the facts,some kids are plain dumb, nothing will change it.while some kids are natural geniuses, nothing to change it.Thanks

Vincent Margott said...

The people who probably loved them and weren't expecting their children to turn into the next Einstein by watching them.

J Hass Group said...

Disney agreed to refund the full purchase price to those who bought the videos between June 5, 2004 and September 4, 2009. Well,thats very good of them..REALLY!!Those days are long gone when children used to spend time watching cartoons but now, kid programming is available 24 x 7 from multiple channels. I agree it makes sense...

sell old cell said...

I agree with you kids need less T.V but babies have to be know that who is Einstein and his reality...

Mississauga Luxury Homes said...

Einstein is look up to for others,He had ably seasoned to write more an more books,Here Disney did a ably job and embarked a good work in favor of kids,I agree with your statement...

sell old cell said...

Firstly I would like say thanks to Disney to launch " Baby Einstein " Its a best for kids to watch it they will learn many things from this which is helpful for their mind development,well Job Disney.

Women Earring Jewelry said...

First of all I would like to say thanks to create such type of books which is very useful for their development and I think you have to move with same concept on live channels and express same things with the help of cartoons,so they will easy attract...

Children’s Jewelry Boxes said...

I think its little bit difficult to compel or convince children to read Einstein book but they will easily agree to watch Einstein CD's or DVDs..

Wedding dresses said...

Its a fab program for kids growth and I would tolike appreciate you to make more n more advertise of this book for getting more n more success and more n more kids growth..

cash for phone said...

Its a very great idea to increase sale and attract people towards this Baby Einstein books and CDs and I think its required also...