How Not to Raise a Genius

There are no shortcuts when it comes to learning, and that applies to becoming a prodigy as well. Popular videos such as the Baby Einstein and Brainy Baby series have attracted millions of parents eager to give their babies an intellectual leg up. But a recent study shows that these products may be doing more harm than good. Experts at the University of Washington reported early in August that for every hour each day that infants watched the kaleidoscope of changing images and music on these DVDs, they understood an average of seven fewer words than babies who did not use such products. "The assumption is that stimulation is good, so more is better," says Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a pediatrician and co-author of the study. "But all the research to date shows there is no such benefit."

That's hardly reassuring to parents who last year spent $200 million on the Baby Einstein series. They might consider instead the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends that infants under 2 not watch anything on a screen and just interact with their parents.