Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

The Baby Mozart video was originally inspired by the "Mozart Effect," a theory that learning, or even intelligence, can be enhanced by listening to Mozart's music. Though this theory has not gained acceptance by other researchers (in fact, the Baby Einstein Company no longer refers to it in their most recent promotional materials), it has spawned a vast array of books, CDs, and videos promising that listening to Mozart will make your baby smarter, more artistic, and less fussy (I believe they also banish waxy yellow buildup). So, the Mozart effect is, at best, unproven... then why should you buy this video? Because it's so good!

The producers of Baby Mozart call it a "video board book." It features various video clips and still photos, mostly of toys, set to gentle, simple arrangements of Mozart's music. The toys include puppets, trains, sorters, plush animals, and other visually stimulating objects. Most are in motion or are being played with (though only the hand of the person playing with them is visible). Other interesting visuals include candles, fiber optics, metronomes, and kinetic sculptures. It sounds simple, and it is. But many children, including my own, find the combination of visuals and music extremely entertaining.

I've seen Baby Mozart dismissed as "Baby Prozac," but it's hard to believe that anybody who has actually played it for their children could have this opinion. My eighteen-month-old daughter does not stare, zombie-like, at the television. She laughs, she claps, she dances, she sways back and forth with the metronome, she names the animals, she says "bleah" back at the dragon puppet, she sings along to the familiar tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." Used as entertainment alone, this video can easily keep children occupied (but not sedated) for half an hour. And there's nothing wrong with that – every parent needs a break once in a while, to run to the bathroom or fix supper or just catch your breath! Baby Mozart is a wonderfully entertaining video, and the music is much more pleasant to adult ears than another chorus of "I love you, you love me..."

But watching Baby Mozart with your child can also be a wonderful interactive experience. My daughter and I always watch it together. As soon as she sees the opening, she gets a big joyous smile and jumps in my lap. I use the video as a teaching tool simply by discussing what's going on ("there goes the train, through the tunnel, over the bridge" or "there goes the red ball"). We name the fruits and animals as they appear (in still photos) on the screen. When the disembodied hand plays with a shape sorter or puzzle, I explain what she's doing ("now she has the yellow ball" or "there's the green triangle").

One interesting effect of the video is its ability to distract my daughter out of a bad mood. When she's overtired, not feeling well, or angry because I'm trying to keep her out of things she shouldn't be in, Baby Mozart has a calming effect (perhaps this is why some call it "Baby Prozac"). I've heard parents of colicky or teething babies say it works wonders. It's also a good way to help wind down when the kids are too wired at bedtime.

We don't watch the video every day. In fact, we probably watch it an average of once a week. But given most toddlers' love of repetition, I doubt it would lose effectiveness if you watched it daily.

If you do happen to believe in the Mozart Effect, or if you simply like the idea of exposing your child to classical music, you might wonder if this video is any more effective than the classical music you may already own. I think it is. The arrangements on Baby Mozart are very simple (I don't think any piece uses more than two instruments, but I could be wrong) and therefore, I believe, more accessible to young children. But they’re not too "babyish" to be appealing to adults. You will find yourself humming along instead of cringing.

Other videos are available. We have Baby Bach, but my daughter and I do not enjoy it as much as Baby Mozart. You can purchase CDs with the music from the videos (though I personally would save them for the car, since I recently started playing a Mozart CD – not Baby Mozart – and my daughter ran over to the television expecting to see her favorite video). Many of the toys featured in the videos are also available. Visit the Baby Einstein website (http://www.babyeinstein.com) for more details.

Will listening to Mozart make your child more intelligent? I don’t think so. But I don’t care - Baby Mozart is a charming video that not only entertains and stimulates without overstimulating, but also gives you a few teachable moments. Forget the Mozart Effect; you'll love the Baby Mozart effect!


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up to Age 4