I don't know what I think about all this, exactly, except that at this point in my life, I'm totally convinced about the "how many words your parents use equals how many words you use" is totally true. The problem that really troubles me is how to change society so that more people use more words and thus pass that on to their kids. *sigh*

I do think baby einstein stuff is complete crap, there's something creepy about it.

Also, just as an aside, my father used to read to me from the encyclopedia when I was young (2 or 3), and I learned all the planets, and their moons, and facts about them, and according to my mom, he used to show me off to friends by asking me to recite what I'd learned. Mom is totally horrified at this whole experience, and calls me his "trained monkey". As for myself, I don't remember a thing, except that I still have an abiding love of space, and for years afterwards, read the encyclopedia for fun.