I beg to differ with this article for two reasons. My son has definitely picked up new words from TV (and yes, he knows what they mean/what the word is associated with) Shows like Baby Einstein, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Ni Hao Kai Lan, Bunnytown, Thomas the Tank Engine, Word World, and every animated movie we've let him watch. Sure, it takes him a couple times of watching sometimes before he makes the connection with a new word, but he always gets it.

The other reason I disagree is they only surveyed/researched the effects of Teletubbies. I mean, come on! Teletubbies? No wonder none of the kids learned anything.

Above all, I do believe that kids don't learn anything without parental reinforcement. Like if I plopped him in front of the TV and did nothing to interact with him and the program, of course he wouldn't learn anything. But that's not to say he hasn't ever picked up stuff on his own.