Educational Videos for a 14 Month Old

Hello,
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should not be watching any television until after age 2, and at that age it is very limited. I would stick to book reading, play time and interaction with family and friends.

I second signing times! It really has changed my son's life. He only had about 5 words at 18mo, and now at 2.5 years he has about 50-75 words. He is still behind, but he is learning words quickly, putting words together, and has also become much more outgoing.
I bought signing times cuz I heard it helped kids with Speech delay. My son learned the signs for things, and then started saying the words too. It also helped cuz his pronounciation was really off, but cuz he was signing I could help him pronounce correctly. It has also helped his understanding of words.
I think it also helped his understanding of concepts like "sharing" "cleaning up", taking turns, different colors, etc. He loves the little kids on the videos and he will do anything that they do.

I also have a 13mo old who I consider pretty advanced in speech, and HE LOVES it too.

They are SO worth the money.....and also most public libraries have them to check out.

Hi N.,

As strange as it may seem, I would recommend the "Signing Time" series.
These videos teach sign language to children.
My son learned English with them! At home, we were speaking only French and Spanish and he was watching these videos to learn sign language (he has a speech delay). As a result, he talked first in English!
They show a sign (for example milk) and repeat it again and again by voice and sign.
They have also nice songs, teaching to take turn, share, use thanks and please...
You may try to try one from your local library.

I have to give you my honest opinion. There aren't ANY videos that can replace talking to your child, having other adults talk to your child, and having your child involved in supervised interaction (parallel play) with their peers.

The recent studies on the Baby Einstein videos was that children who watched them had no more, or even less, vocabulary than non-video watching peers.

NOTHING replaces talking. They've shown that daddies talking to babies have a HUGE impact on language due to the fact that men don't use as much, if any, baby language with their children.

W.

Good for you for wanting to give your baby the best! Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a good educational video for a child that young, in spite of what the Baby Einstein people would want you to believe. What helps 14-month-olds with talking and social behaviors is interaction with caring, responsive people. No video can do that. Social behaviors and talking both are interactive. A video can expose a child to language, but not to communication, which involves the give and take of a social interaction. To teach talking and social behavior, we need to respond to our children, not just expose them to language. At this point, believe it or not, the American Association of Pediatrics is recommending that we really do not let our little ones (under two years old) watch tv or videos. Of course, we all do (or almost all), but nothing on the screen can substitute for what you (or a caring caregiver) do when you interact with your baby. Reading a book to your baby, looking for the mouse in the colored pictures of "Goodnight Moon," playing pat-a-cake and other word and motion games, singing songs that have motions that go along with them, and just talking about the world around you, (Look at that BIG dog! I see a LITTLE dog! I see a brown dog! I see a black dog! Where's the doggy? What does a doggy say? Woof, woof...) all of those kinds of things will do wonders for your baby's language. Have fun!!

I couldn't agree more with the Moms who said to not let your child watch TV until he/ she is 2. I won't get on my soapbox about it, there is a ton of information available about the topic! Best of luck :)

Can I suggest that you talk to your baby and play with your baby rather than putting her/him down in front of a video? There is no video that is a magic educational tool for a baby. Personal interaction is always best.

Now...if you need something to plop them down in front of so you can finish getting dressed or make dinner and you just aren't available and need the distraction for him/her, my little one does enjoy Sesame Street, Yo Gabba Gabba and Backyardigans. My oldest also liked Blues Clues when he was little.

Good luck.
-M

Hi! My daughter loves "Baby Signing Time" (I bought it on Amazon I think). She started watching it when she was approximately 6 months old and now she knows a lot of words (she is 22 months old now). She loves the songs and does the motions kind of like a dance yet is very good about using her words when she needs something. I was worried the sign language would preent her from verbalizing, but I think it did the opposite. We also have "Your Baby Can Read" and while educaional, I find them a bit boring. I hope this helps. Good luck!

Social behaviors are not learned while sitting idle in front of a t.v. They are learned in a social setting. Take your child to the park, and have play dates. Keep watch always and gently correct inappropriate behavior. The more they are around others, they will learn social behaviors and will help with speech as well. With talking- the more you talk with them, and read to them, the more their speech will develop.

I think play groups/daycare and being around other kids that are older will help with both of those. I can't imagine a child that young learning good social behaviors from a video, and videos/tv don't encourage talking at that age (there are some that do with preschoolers, but I wouldn't trust those to actual teach).

The best information I can give you is Socialize your child around other children. The MOPS Organization is low cost and fun for you as well. He is a toddler and needs this more than a video, go to the park, First Five Programs in your area are free.
Sincerely,
C./Advocate for Children and Preschool Teacher.

No, because there are none. A TV is a big electronic pacifier, not an engaging learning tool. To learn about appropriate behaviour, model it in social setting *with* her. To learn how to speak, she needs to hear you talk. GL!!

Television does not help babies learn, they need interection with the people that they love to learn.
Its not unusual for a child of that age to not want to interact with other children.
The best thing you can do for your baby is spend lots of time talking and interacting with them, He
Or she will naturally become more interested in forming other relationships as time goes on.

No, not really. You are the best teaching tool! Talk, talk, talk, talk, to your baby. Tell them everything you are doing all the time "I'm walking to the kitchen to get some water" "I'm going to the bathroom to go potty" "I'm sitting on the couch talking to you, Johnny." Your focused interaction is the best way to teach at that age.

You may want to consider double checking to make sure your child doesn't have food sensitivities if you feel you are have behavioral issues. Many times the symptoms are not obvious at all. To learn more you may want to look online and learn about the Center for Advanced Medicine in Encinitas, CA. There is a test called the Bio Meridian that has been very helpful to my family for my 2 boys.
Good luck.