Baby Video

From LoveToKnow Baby

You should have no trouble finding a baby video to stimulate and educate your baby. When you begin searching for that perfect video, however, you may be a little confused as to which ones are the best to buy. What guidelines should you follow when choosing videos for your baby?

Age Appropriate Videos

Just as there are age guidelines on most toys, there are also age guidelines on baby videos. These guidelines are placed on the video packages for a reason. Videos are designed with particular children in mind. Older children will quickly lose interest in videos that are designed for infants or toddlers. Infants may be fascinated by a video, but that same video may be too boring for a toddler. It is important that you pay attention to age suggestions before purchasing a video.

Baby Video

Can an infant really focus on the television long enough to watch a video? They can, and they do if the video is appropriate. There are several award winning video series on the market, and these videos focus on an infants' cognitive and intellectual development. Since infants typically prefer objects in black, white, and red colors, these videos show objects in these shades. Instead of flashing images across the screen, however, infant videos project objects which slowly appear and disappear so that baby's developing eyesight can focus on and follow the image.

You'll know your baby has had enough when he begins to turn his head away from the television screen and fuss. When he does this, it is time to turn off the television. In the beginning your child may only focus for ten minutes or so, but as he continues to develop and becomes more aware of his surroundings, his attention span will become longer, and you'll notice that he enjoys the videos more.

Toddler Videos

Just as toddlers have lots of exuberant energy, the videos you choose for your bouncing baby should also be full of energy and fun. There are many wonderful shows dedicated to educating toddler-aged children. They are full of animal characters, children, and adults who sing and dance their way into children's minds and hearts. Look for videos that educate while having fun at the same time.

Watch With Your Child

Finally, don't just plop your child in front of the television and walk away. You can use this time to interact with your baby as she watches and learns. Go ahead and sing all of the funny songs with your child. Talk to her about all of the images and objects she sees on the television screen. As she gets older, let her help you pick out what videos she prefers to watch. You can even let her help you pick out videos to buy at the store. As your baby grows and matures, you'll discover which videos she responds to the best. You have the power to choose the most influential and stimulating material that can fill your child's mind. Take this seriously, but have fun, too!