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Baby Einstein Discovery Kits

I was recently invited to participate in a virtual roundtable about the latest release of the new Baby Einstein Discovery Kits. Having an older baby and a toddler, this was right up my alley.

Before DS #1 was born, I had received one of the Baby Einstein DVDs as a shower present.  We used it a few times, but TV never really held his interest until he was nearly 2.  By then, he was more about some other popular shows than the DVD we had received.  Fast forward to DS #2 (10 months old) and the new release of the Baby Einstein Discovery Kits, and it is an entirely different story.

What exactly is a Baby Einstein Discovery Kit?
The new Discovery Kits, have replaced the traditional Baby Einstein DVD collections.  All Baby Einstein DVDs are now sold as kits.  I know what you are thinking, “Great, what is in the kit and how much more does it cost“?  The new kits include a DVD, music and book or discovery cards.  I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the price remains the same.  

According to the company, the discovery kits do what many of my elementary school teachers used as teaching tools way back when: reinforcement. The kits come in levels 1, 2 and 3 so that when ready, your child can move on to a new level.  Each level has three components – DVD, book/discovery cards and CD.

My Real World Test
My 10 month old was completely amazed by the DVD. Seriously.  He. just.sat.there.  The colors were so vibrant on the Wild Animal Safari DVD I think he was just in awe.  He also giggled when the hand puppets appeared. This kid is a definite giggler. 

Being 2, my older son does not sit still very long, unless it is to read a book.  He has developed a passion for books which makes me so happy. While he did not sit through the entire DVD, he loved the discovery cards. He knows his animals and almost all of his letters, so now we are working on putting the two together such as B is for bear.  The discovery cards are also made of a hard board, so that my younger son will not be able to bite through them, and my older son is not able to tear them to shreds (something he has begun doing to some of our pop up books).

We are going to use the CD for our two hour trip over the river and through the woods to Grandmoms next weekend.  Hopefully that will help lull the kids into nice, peaceful naps for the ride!

The new Discovery Kits are meant to grow with your baby and we are definitely testing that out with two kids so close in age.  It is also a great concept if you are like me and are always on the run. These kits enable busy moms to take learning on the road, or make it part of a night time routine!

How do I know what level is appropriate for my baby?
According to Dr. Karen Hill-Scott, “there is no age range specified because babies’ development is fluid, not fixed by age. In fact, any one of these kits can be enjoyed by babies 3+ months and up.  Each level is really okay to watch for all infants. But as babies develop, their behavior will indicate which title is a good match for their interests at that time.”

The Baby Einstein Discovery Kits have a U.S. suggested retail price of $19.99. And, there is also a $3 dollar instant redeemable coupon at US retailers nationwide ($4 in Canada) until the end of the year (offer expires 12/31/10)!

For more information about the Baby Einstein Discovery Kits and other Baby Einstein products, visit www.babyeinstein.com.

*Disclosure: I was invited to participate in the Baby Einstein Virtual Roundtable prior to release. I was given a copy of the new discovery kit in exchange for my participation.