Discussion thread for "Your Baby Can Read"

[MrsPinecone]

This was posted by one of the moms on my baby board, and I wholeheartedly agree:

I read an article that was a synopsis of several studies. (A legit journal article, not the column of the week in a parenting mag). Several studies done by prestigious universities have come to the same conclusion. When kids are taught in an organized fashion at a young age, such as using flash cards, etc., they are really impressive because they know so much when they enter kindergarten. They are leaps and bounds ahead of their peers and declared geniuses. But those same kids never develop a love of learning and they lose their natural curiosity. Very few early readers ever read for pleasure. (Unless of course, they are true prodigies and have learned to read early on their own, not due to flash cards or a set program).

By third grade, the kids who were not taught to read early have completely caught up and then even go on to pass the kids that were "taught" various skills from an early age. After third grade, when kids are expected to demonstrate problem solving, extrapolation, etc, the "forced" learners fall behind because they only know who to learn what is spoon fed to them--they have not developed critical thinking skills.

By far, the best way to give your child a headstart is by exposing them to everything possible and then stepping back while their natural curiosity takes over. Let them get really messy, or help them touch and hold items that you would not want them to be around if unsupervised.

Also, use play and games. Driving in the car is a GREAT way to teach your child things. Identifiying places by their signs is a great pre-reading skill. When your child learns that the red bullseye means it's a Target store, they have learned that a symbol can stand for an object or an idea. Play a game where you see how many signs you can identify (golden arches means french fries, etc.). That way you are teaching both HOW to learn as well as the skill (in this case pre-reading) instead of stupid party tricks that will impress the grandparents.

(I always feel really sorry for the 3 year olds on Jay Leno that can recite all the presidents in order--I always wonder what happens to them later in life)

[Delphinius Merinus]

I want to straighten a few things up!

Teaching your child new things is the best for them! Don't you realize WHY people seem so stupid? Look up the effects of Mono Sodium Glutamate and Fluoride ALONE! MSG is in everything we eat, not displaying itself as "MSG" but found in other food additives as well. MSG CAUSES brain damage, especially to unborn children and developing minds! Fluoride is in our water AND food! It too causes BRAIN DAMAGE and mental disorders when consumed.

Therefor, anything you can teach them that is productive in ANY way is beneficial especially for the developing mind (ages 2-5.) sorry everyone, but saying that children will have a hard time in school because they are smart is postal. I knew how to read when I was 2 1/2 years old AND I taught myself after help from my mother with the Hooked on Phonics Program. I had NO problems because I was smart! It is OUR job as parents to explain the outside world to our babies and if they CAN even read bad words then please explain to them that it isn't right (or get rid of the things you have that you don't want them reading!) Just because they can't read them until they are weak-minded and already 5 years old doesn't mean that they understand more clearly, it just means you'll have a teacher explaining it to them instead of the parent's who's responsibility it is!

I love my baby girl, Amoura and she's learning from the Your Baby Can Read Program. She loves it and wants to learn, asking for time to practice. Socially she is ahead as well because she'll have more time to think and soak the world instead of learning her letters, numbers, and shapes in Kindergarten! I hope she will figure life out as easily as I did realizing what is right and wrong in a philosophical way early enough so that she doesn't get burned. Wisdom is what we truly want to install in our children.
I see too many parents, like at the super market, forgetting what it was really like to be a child. Telling them that they need to stop crying and grow up is most too common! THEY ARE CHILDREN trying to learn but have a brick wall in front of them all the time screaming things they don't understand= their parents! :shrug7:

Also, me and my boyfriend have already begun teaching her martial arts, yoga, philosophy, politics, music, nutrition, and more because of how much the program makes her realize how much she wants to discover the world. Culture is now our main subject at 3 years old, so I'm thinking of Home Schooling her until she is in Middle School (5th-6th grade) because of the social activity she gets at her new Martial Arts classes as well as the music classes (she is learning Violin right now! I learned at 5, but she's ahead of me now!)
Just please never think your children CANNOT when they actually want to and can! My daughter has always been the one that said she wanted to try out the things I showed to her so early on :) you'd be surprised what they can do and comprehend!

sorry, I had to sign up to this site because I had such a strong opinion!

[VivaciousJewelz]

Originally Posted by Delphinius Merinus Also, me and my boyfriend have already begun teaching her martial arts, yoga, philosophy, politics, music, nutrition, and more because of how much the program makes her realize how much she wants to discover the world. Culture is now our main subject at 3 years old, so I'm thinking of Home Schooling her until she is in Middle School (5th-6th grade) because of the social activity she gets at her new Martial Arts classes as well as the music classes (she is learning Violin right now! I learned at 5, but she's ahead of me now!) Just please never think your children CANNOT when they actually want to and can! My daughter has always been the one that said she wanted to try out the things I showed to her so early on :) you'd be surprised what they can do and comprehend! sorry, I had to sign up to this site because I had such a strong opinion!

I have to say as far as martial arts class, I agree it's a good idea for all ages, but it's important to minimize her physical contact with people and objects as far as kicking, punching, or other techniques like that. I don't know what all your daughter's martial arts classes entail, but growing up in the martial arts community (as I did) I did a lot of sparring and board braking. I knew one martial arts instructor that was letting children as young as 4 attempt board breaking, which is a big no-no for several reasons, not the least of which is that if you have not perfected the proper technique through extensive practice, you can break bones in your hands and feet, and do permanent damage.

Sparring is also tricky b/c young children do not always have the control necessary to avoid seriously injuring someone. I saw one man get his arm broken by another man, and I, myself, broke a finger while sparring with someone, and it took a long time before I gained proper use of my finger for other activities I enjoyed, such as playing the piano and the clarinet, as well as typing on the computer, so to have such young children engage seriously in very physical sports like martial arts can have dangerous repercussions if you do not have a qualified instructor.

Personally, because of these considerations, I would not put my Caroline in martial arts until she was at least 5, and only then for her to get basics and not engage in the more physical aspects of it. I hope your daughter is being taught martial arts by an instructor that knows at least enough about child development to keep her safe and avoid physical injuries that could interfere with her ability to learn other activities (such as music or other sports).

[mama22qts]

We never did any of that stuff with my two. I just love to read, always have, and DS and DD must have picked up on that along the way. I read a lot to them when they were younger.

DD is in 4th grade now, is extremely curious, and loves learning. We send our kids to a private college prep school, and though the curriculum is much more involved than the public school's curriculum, both kids are performing at extrmemly high levels. DD reads on a 7th grade level; DS (3rd grade) reads on a 6th grade level. They have a broad range of interests from sports to history, grammar and science. We challenge our children academically, and they respond. Socially, they're the youngest in their classes, but they keep up just fine.

I don't see the reason for buying any program. Take the time to put forth effort with your children and engage them in your world...they'll respond. It's much cheaper, is more successful, and has the wonderful side effect of bonding you and your children.

[missmitz]

Originally Posted by Delphinius Merinus I want to straighten a few things up! Teaching your child new things is the best for them! Don't you realize WHY people seem so stupid? Look up the effects of Mono Sodium Glutamate and Fluoride ALONE! MSG is in everything we eat, not displaying itself as "MSG" but found in other food additives as well. MSG CAUSES brain damage, especially to unborn children and developing minds! Fluoride is in our water AND food! It too causes BRAIN DAMAGE and mental disorders when consumed. Therefor, anything you can teach them that is productive in ANY way is beneficial especially for the developing mind (ages 2-5.) sorry everyone, but saying that children will have a hard time in school because they are smart is postal. I knew how to read when I was 2 1/2 years old AND I taught myself after help from my mother with the Hooked on Phonics Program. I had NO problems because I was smart! It is OUR job as parents to explain the outside world to our babies and if they CAN even read bad words then please explain to them that it isn't right (or get rid of the things you have that you don't want them reading!) Just because they can't read them until they are weak-minded and already 5 years old doesn't mean that they understand more clearly, it just means you'll have a teacher explaining it to them instead of the parent's who's responsibility it is! I love my baby girl, Amoura and she's learning from the Your Baby Can Read Program. She loves it and wants to learn, asking for time to practice. Socially she is ahead as well because she'll have more time to think and soak the world instead of learning her letters, numbers, and shapes in Kindergarten! I hope she will figure life out as easily as I did realizing what is right and wrong in a philosophical way early enough so that she doesn't get burned. Wisdom is what we truly want to install in our children. I see too many parents, like at the super market, forgetting what it was really like to be a child. Telling them that they need to stop crying and grow up is most too common! THEY ARE CHILDREN trying to learn but have a brick wall in front of them all the time screaming things they don't understand= their parents! :shrug7: Also, me and my boyfriend have already begun teaching her martial arts, yoga, philosophy, politics, music, nutrition, and more because of how much the program makes her realize how much she wants to discover the world. Culture is now our main subject at 3 years old, so I'm thinking of Home Schooling her until she is in Middle School (5th-6th grade) because of the social activity she gets at her new Martial Arts classes as well as the music classes (she is learning Violin right now! I learned at 5, but she's ahead of me now!) Just please never think your children CANNOT when they actually want to and can! My daughter has always been the one that said she wanted to try out the things I showed to her so early on :) you'd be surprised what they can do and comprehend! sorry, I had to sign up to this site because I had such a strong opinion!

Am I seriously supposed to take advice about child education from someone who just typed.... "me and my boyfriend have..."???????????????

Things that make you say hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....................

[CW&M Mom]

Originally Posted by missmitz Am I seriously supposed to take advice about child education from someone who just typed.... "me and my boyfriend have..."??????????????? Things that make you say hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....................

LOL


Just because you can get your 12 month old to "read" doesn't mean they actually understand it.

Don't waste your money on the program. Unless your child is actually a genius, and is going to graduate from high school at 10...don't waste your money on them.

We got a few baby einstein video's...used...to keep me sane..not to teach my child to talk.

If you really want to help your child talk early...get some signing time video's...you can watch them online....or buy them...but teaching your child some basic sign language...will do more for talking...then probably anything else...except maybe talking to them.

[missmitz]

I wasn't going to order it. I was just reading it and laughed at the great grammar used to give educational advice.

[CW&M Mom]

Originally Posted by missmitz I wasn't going to order it. I was just reading it and laughed at the great grammar used to give educational advice.

The LOL was for your thoughts, on the grammer issue..(which I totally agree).

My advice was for the OP and everyone else that wants to waste $200 buying a program there baby doesn't need.

[frogmama]

Ok, well being that the OP was from over a year ago now, I'm going to unsubscribe from this thread - if anyone wants to ask me questions about my previous posts go ahead and PM me :) see-ya

[momto8kiddos]

Originally Posted by MrsPinecone OK, I am en ex-English teacher and have very strong feelings on topics of this kind. PLEASE, do not push your kid by using any of the programs like this. Let them learn to read when it's time to learn to read-- 18 months is NOT the time. Kids who are pushed into learning before their time can and do burn out. By the time they get to this stuff in school, they are worn out and not interested in learning. It makes school a terrible chore instead of a place that they want to go. It's not a good start to their future. It's turning your kid into a performing monkey. If they are interested, and learn to read BY THEMSELVES before kindergarten, great. Fabulous. Encourage the joy of learning. But as the pp said, it can make school very hard to deal with, and create issues both academically and socially. They are babies for such a short time. Don't make them grow up before it's time.

I agree. Do NOT push your child. However, it is a very common MISCONCEPTION that in order to teach a baby to read that you have to pressure them. That is totally untrue. Babies are wanting to learn about EVERYTHING including language in all in forms. Teaching them about the written word should be natural. I don't consider it making them "grow up before their time."

I taught my daughter to read using YBCR as well as "How to Teach your Baby to Read" by Glenn Doman. Those programs blend well. She started looking at words when she was 3 months old. She LOVED the program. When I would pull out the flashcards her little arms and legs would start flailing in anticipation.

Now she is 7 years old and is reading on the 10th grade level. She is homeschooled so does not have to deal with being at a high level. She doesn't read that much written at that level because most fiction at that level are not appropriate for her. I've never taught her phonics but she has figured them out all on her own.

I say do it but do it without pressure! If you still have questions, check out the teachyourbabytoread yahoogroup.