Language DVDs for Babies: Helpful Tool or Just Entertainment?

Many parents wonder: Can my baby really learn words by watching language DVDs or educational videos? The short answer is yes—and there’s science to support it! When children watch language-focused programs, especially those designed for babies and toddlers, they begin to process both the sounds (audio) and images (visuals). This combination can help boost language learning—even in very young children.

Why Early Exposure to Language Matters

Babies are especially sensitive to different sounds (called phonemes) during their first few months of life. After about 8 months, this sensitivity begins to fade—unless they continue hearing new sounds through conversations or media. That’s why early exposure to diverse languages and sounds—even through background TV—can make a difference.

A study by Robb and colleagues (2009) found that even when babies aren’t actively watching, having educational videos playing in the background can support vocabulary development.

What Does Research Say?

Over the past few decades, researchers have studied how educational videos influence vocabulary growth:

• Sesame Street Study (1990): Children aged 3–5 showed significant vocabulary growth after watching the program regularly for 2 years.

• Dragon Tales Study (2005): Babies around 30 months old learned more words after watching educational shows like Dragon Tales.

• Krcmar et al. (2007): Toddlers were able to learn new vocabulary through TV-based instruction—though live teaching was even more effective.

• Carlson & Strattman (2008): Babies who watched vocabulary DVDs scored higher than those who didn’t.

• Amy Rush Thesis (2011): Babies who watched the same infant DVD repeatedly learned more novel words, especially when parents helped guide their viewing.

The conclusion? Repetition, age-appropriate content, and parental involvement all help babies and toddlers learn new words through video.

Not All Videos Are Equal

Some studies that showed little effect used videos like Baby Einstein WordsWorth, which may not have followed research-based teaching methods. Also, critics of screen time often forget that babies are always listening—and even passive exposure to new sounds can influence brain development and early vocabulary.

How Dinolingo Can Help

Dinolingo provides scientifically informed, interactive, and child-centered language programs for children ages 2 to 14. With fun videos, songs, stories, and games available on web, iOS, and Android, Dinolingo turns screen time into a learning opportunity. Plus, features like offline access, a parent dashboard, and gamified reward systems make it easy to stay involved in your child’s language journey.

Whether you’re introducing your child to Spanish, Mandarin, French, or over 50 other languages, Dinolingo offers the tools and content to support early vocabulary learning.

Final Thoughts

Babies are amazing learners. Even before they can speak, their brains are busy processing sounds, patterns, and meaning. With the right videos, repetition, and a little help from parents or caregivers, educational DVDs can absolutely help babies learn new words. So next time your little one wants to watch their favorite language video again, press play with confidence—it might be helping more than you think!