LITTLE PIM BLOG
Meeting Dr. Bialystok
Last weekend I attended a talk at a local Barnes & Noble by Dr. Ellen Bialystok, who was speaking about the cognitive benefits of children being bilingual. She is a Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology at York University in Canada. I have been following her work for a long time and have cited her research on bilingual children on our web site. Dr. Bialytsok walked us through studies she did on groups of monolingual and bilingual kids, comparing their reading, writing and processing skills. Her studies showed that not only did the bilingual children have the same level of vocabulary and ability to read in English as the monolingual kids, but in addition there were many cognitive benefits to learning a second language. The main one is that it is a great workout for the front lobes of the brain, which are in charge of all of our "executive functions". These functions include processing language, critical thinking and other intelligence related skills such as concentration and retention of information. She also shared evidence that showed that even limited exposure to a foreign language can modify how children think and enhance their cognitive skills. In other words, it’s not all or nothing and every bit counts.
After the talk I met Dr. Bialystok and learned that in 1981 she had been awarded the ACTFL-Paul Pimsleur Award for Research in Foreign Language Education; my father's legacy! What a thrill. She is making such an important contribution to this field of study and helping parents like me to feel confident that we are doing the right thing for our children by introducing them to a second language.
Learn more about why starting early with a second language is key:
http://www.littlepim.com/products/why-starting-early-is-key/
What do Dr. Bialystock and other scientists say about raising bilingual children?
Little Pim Hebrew!
Enjoy this 1 minute clip of Little Pim Hebrew. Browse the Hebrew series: http://www.littlepim.com/store/hebrew-language-for-kids/
Little Pim Japanese: Eating & Drinking
Enjoy this preview of Little Pim Eating & Drinking (Japanese).
Introducing: Three New Little Pim Languages
Guten Tag, Privet, and Marhaba! I just said "hello" to you in our newest languages: German, Russian, and Arabic! I wrote awhile back about how fun it was to create these new DVDs and am so thrilled that they are now available- and just in time for the holidays. Now you can enjoy "Eating and Drinking," "Wake Up Smiling" and "Playtime" in our Gift Set that includes a plush Little Pim panda and our 3-Pak in 10 languages!
Preorder now to take advantage of November's deal: Free Domestic Standard Shipping! Your order will be sent out at the end of November.
Recent Disney Controvery Part II
Both Babble and Working Mother Magazine.com have published my article about the recent frenzy surrounding Baby Einstein and television for tots. Read the articles here:
They Say Maybe a Little Screen Time is Not So Bad by Cary Fagan of Babble's Strollerderby
http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2009/10/30/they-say-maybe-a-little-screen-time-is-not-so-bad/
Controversy over Baby Videos Working Mother Magazine.com
http://www.workingmother.com/web?service=direct/1/ViewBlogLandingPage/dlinkBlog&sp=S1954
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Recent Disney Controversy
As most of you who read my blog know, I am the mother of two young boys under the age of five and the creator of Little Pim, an educational DVD series that introduces babies, toddlers and preschoolers to a second language. Although I have mixed feelings about the Disney refund that was reported in the NYTimes on October 23rd, I believe the ban-TV-for-tots frenzy that has ensued is misguided. I am the mother of two young boys under the age of five, and for full disclosure, the creator of an educational DVD series for tots, Little Pim, which introduces babies, toddlers and preschoolers to a second language. Although I have mixed feelings about the Disney refund, I believe the ban-TV-for-tots frenzy that has ensued is misguided.
Let us contemplate the following:
1) Studies show that 74% of all kids in the U.S. under two watch SOME videos or DVDs*. So either nearly 3/4 of the parents in this country are bad people, or letting your child watch a show while you make dinner isn't as big a deal as some advocacy groups would have you believe.
2) There is a BIG difference between a baby or toddler watching a few minutes of an educational DVD and the 2-3 hours of viewing per day that the American Academy of Pediatrics found to be potentially unsound for young minds and prompted them to issue a warning against ANY screen time kids under the age of two.
3) We are now living in a digital era of You Tube, 500 cable channels, and videos on our cell phones. Our kids will be surrounded by media from their earliest days, whether we like it or not. The question we should be considering is “what” and “how much” screen time is right for our them? Parents need to make their own decisions about when the right time is to expose their kids to media, and then be encouraged to make thoughtful decisions about what that media is. Media literacy should be the issue of the day, not media abstinence.
4) Most parents engage with their young children in a variety of ways - reading to them, talking, singing, playing, dancing AND allowing them watch a DVD from time to time. Most of us do it all. I have yet to read a study that shows there are negative side effects of limited screen time, when it's part of a verbally rich environment and healthy family interactions.
So even if the secret is "out" that we sometimes use DVDs as a babysitter, we also know that sometimes we watch WITH our children. We share in their delight at making new puppet friends, learning new words in English, Spanish and Chinese, and acquiring social skills by imitating kids or animated characters on screen. These are moments we can celebrate and cherish; the watching may not make them smarter, but it may help them learn about making healthy viewing choices that will carry over when they are old enough to control the clicker.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and keep this conversation going.
* source: http://www.pbs.org/parents/childrenandmedia/article-faq.html#prevalentTV
Little Pim Learns Russian, Arabic, & German
Last week I was in Los Angeles where I met three new Little Pims! Three new Little Pim voice over actresses, that is. Anna, Petra and Wiiam were all delightful and skilled voice over talents who brought Little Pim to life in Russian, German and Arabic, respectively. DVDs 1, 2 and 3 will be released in these languages in December 2009.
We had a great time in the recording studio and I loved hearing Little Pim say "Ilal liqa'a Qareeban" in Arabic (goodbye, see you soon!), exclaim "nochmal!" in German (one more time) and whisper "shhh...on speed" in Russian (shhh, he is sleeping).
"lablog4" I was learning too, since I only speak ein bissen Deutch, about 30 words of Russian and about as much Arabic as would fit on a Hamsa locket. Some of my favorite words were:
Padushka - pillow in Russian Er snorrt - he snores in German Futur - breakfast in Arabic (also about the only word I could pronounce in Arabic).
I also had a few "lost in translation" moments when I discovered that there are no words in German for hugs or for pretending, and in Russian you would NEVER use the word for kids' feet. The word exists but they don't use it. They say small legs instead. Hmmm... That one had me stumped. There are also about four ways of saying "goodbye, see you soon" in Arabic. I am sure we chose the best one! If not, we can always get back in the studio and do it nochmal. I'll just be sure to eat a big futur and bring my padushka.
"lablog"
"lablog2"
"lablog3"
Little Pim Learns Russian, Arabic, & German
Last week I was in Los Angeles where I met three new Little Pims! Three new Little Pim voice over actresses, that is. Anna, Petra and Wiiam were all delightful and skilled voice over talents who brought Little Pim to life in Russian, German and Arabic, respectively. DVDs 1, 2 and 3 will be released in these languages in December 2009.
We had a great time in the recording studio and I loved hearing Little Pim say "Ilal liqa'a Qareeban" in Arabic (goodbye, see you soon!), exclaim "nochmal!" in German (one more time) and whisper "shhh...on speed" in Russian (shhh, he is sleeping).
"lablog4" I was learning too, since I only speak ein bissen Deutch, about 30 words of Russian and about as much Arabic as would fit on a Hamsa locket. Some of my favorite words were:
Padushka - pillow in Russian Er snorrt - he snores in German Futur - breakfast in Arabic (also about the only word I could pronounce in Arabic).
I also had a few "lost in translation" moments when I discovered that there are no words in German for hugs or for pretending, and in Russian you would NEVER use the word for kids' feet. The word exists but they don't use it. They say small legs instead. Hmmm... That one had me stumped. There are also about four ways of saying "goodbye, see you soon" in Arabic. I am sure we chose the best one! If not, we can always get back in the studio and do it nochmal. I'll just be sure to eat a big futur and bring my padushka.
"lablog"
"lablog2"
"lablog3"
Where in the World is Little Pim?
Guten Tag! That's Hello in German. Little Pim's Chief of Marketing, Peggy, is in Germany this week at the Annual International Book Fair in Frankfurt. If you find yourself in the area, come to the Edureach Booth in the American Collective Stand, Hall 8.0 S961!
Danke!
Little Pim Learns Russian, Arabic, & German
Last week I was in Los Angeles where I met three new Little Pims! Three new Little Pim voice over actresses, that is. Anna, Petra and Wiiam were all delightful and skilled voice over talents who brought Little Pim to life in Russian, German and Arabic, respectively. DVDs 1, 2 and 3 will be released in these languages in December 2009.
We had a great time in the recording studio and I loved hearing Little Pim say "Ilal liqa'a Qareeban" in Arabic (goodbye, see you soon!), exclaim "nochmal!" in German (one more time) and whisper "shhh...on speed" in Russian (shhh, he is sleeping).
I was learning too, since I only speak ein bissen Deutch, about 30 words of Russian and about as much Arabic as would fit on a Hamsa locket. Some of my favorite words were:
Padushka - pillow in Russian Er snorrt - he snores in German Futur - breakfast in Arabic (also about the only word I could pronounce in Arabic).
I also had a few "lost in translation" moments when I discovered that there are no words in German for hugs or for pretending, and in Russian you would NEVER use the word for kids' feet. The word exists but they don't use it. They say small legs instead. Hmmm... That one had me stumped. There are also about four ways of saying "goodbye, see you soon" in Arabic. I am sure we chose the best one! If not, we can always get back in the studio and do it nochmal. I'll just be sure to eat a big futur and bring my padushka.
