Million Dollar Babies: Why Infants Can't Be Hardwired for Success explores the belief that mental capacity is irreversibly shaped from birth to three.
Author Sara Mead argues that theories about early brain development have been hijacked for commercial gain.
Ms Mead, a senior policy analyst for Education Sector, said, 'Many people assume that the brain is more capable of learning during this time. But we just don't know enough about the brain to recommend certain types of stimulation to enhance brain development in early childhood.'
She said that in the US, widespread acceptance of such theories has encouraged parents to spend money on products believing they will enhance their child's potential intellect.
'We live in a society that places a lot of stock in science, so even vaguely saying a product is "scientifically-based" gives marketers a lot of credibility and stature with parents when they may not deserve it,' said Ms Mead.
In London, childcare consultant and psychologist Jennie Lindon said, 'This paper is absolutely applicable to the UK. The commercial products she is talking about have definitely reached us, with all the unsupported claims.
Parents - even practitioners - are deeply tempted to delegate their responsibility to toys and DVDs. It encourages people to hand over personal communication to technology.'
For further information see www.educationsector.org/analysis.
