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BabyFirst Video
Common Sense says
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Fire phone, Kindle Fire
- Free
- Education
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that BabyFirst Video is a subscription service offering dozens of programs geared toward babies and toddlers. Programs can be streamed or downloaded onto the app for offline viewing. Parents can restrict the shows that are available in the programs section of the settings. The content is all toddler-friendly, with a focus on songs, colors, numbers, and letters. Some of the programming is billed as educational for babies, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids wait until age 2 to watch videos. Shows are available in six languages, though not every program is available in every language. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change.
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- Kids say
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What's it about?
BABYFIRST VIDEO presents kids with large pictures representing each program available with a subscription. Free content is marked with a red badge. Kids scroll through the pages of shows and tap their choices. Then they can select a specific episode. From there, the show plays continuously, automatically starting new episodes, until a parent stops it. Dozens of programs, such as Harry the Bunny, Color Crew, and Rainbow Horse, are included, with multiple episodes of each. Many shows revolve around colors, letters, words, and numbers.
Is it any good?
Though BabyFirst Video offers a nice selection of shows for the youngest viewers and some controls parents will find helpful, it's missing a few controls that some parents may want. Parents can select languages and choose which shows are available to kids, but there's no way to pause a show in progress or limit viewing to one show or a specified length of time. The biggest standout for parents on the go is the ability to download shows for offline viewing. As for the content, it's pretty standard fare for toddlers, with mostly animated shows and a few live-action and puppet shows. The "Fan Favorites" selection includes four popular shows, easily accessible in one place. New episodes are added frequently to keep content fresh and are marked with a red badge. Marketing any media as educational for babies is tricky, as experts assert that a screen just can't teach the way a caregiver can, so be aware that any possible educational benefits for babies and toddlers are likely limited and screen time should always be balanced with interaction and real-world activities.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about what they see on the shows. Use the images on the screen or the situations the characters face as a conversation starter; remember that TV programming billed as "educational" still isn't necessary or important. The youngest kids will learn the language and concepts they need to from listening to you talk and observing the world around them.
Find tips on choosing your baby's first videos in our article 5 Tips for Picking your Preschooler's First TV Shows.
Use our media tips for little ones and consider how much screen time you want to give your child.
App details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Fire phone, Kindle Fire
- Price: Free
- Pricing structure: Free (Various subscription options are available.)
- Subscription price: $4.99 / month
- Release date: March 10, 2015
- Category: Education
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Music and Sing-Along, Numbers and Letters
- Size: 26.70 MB
- Publisher: BabyFirst
- Version: 2.4.0
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 7.0 or later; Android 2.3.3 and up
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