Includes bibliographical references (p. [253]-262) and index.

Learn something new every day -- "There's a new mom in town" -- "It's like preschool on TV" -- A vast and uncontrolled experiment -- Elmo's world -- The princess lifestyle -- Anything to get them to read -- Developing character in preschool.

An investigative journalist examines how marketers exploit infants and toddlers and the broad, often shocking impact of that exploitation on our society. It's no secret that toy and media corporations manipulate the insecurities of parents to move their products, but this book unveils the chilling fact that these corporations are using--and often funding--the latest research in child development to sell directly to babies and toddlers. Author Thomas also reveals the lack of evidence that "educational" shows and toys provide any educational benefit at all for young children, and the growing evidence that some of these products actually impair early development and could harm our kids socially and cognitively for life. Underlying is a dangerous economic and cultural shift: our kids are becoming consumers at alarmingly young ages and suffering all the ills that rampant materialism used to visit only on adults--from anxiety to hypercompetitiveness to depression.--From publisher description.