Anyone used Your Baby Can Read?

Bogustime

I've seen a few commericals on it, and last week, the guy who created it was on The Doctors. I'm curious if it's really all it says it is. The boys love books, so I thought it might be fun for them, but it's a little pricey so I'd love to get some feedback first.

Mrs. Destructo

If it's what I think it is, it's a video your kids watch that supposedly teaches them to read.

I looked into something like this awhile ago, but I am VERY uncomfortable with the idea of a TV teaching my kids to read. Even if it works I'd rather do it the old fashioned way.

Bogustime

This actually includes flash cards and books that you point and they have audio announcing the word. There is an instructional DVD, but it's for the parents.

Mrs. Destructo

Okay, I must be thinking of something else. The thing I saw was just a video, or maybe a series of videos. It didn't have books or flashcards.

 Nevermind :-D

sweater

I think there were positive reviews on this on the 0-6 board. I was going to ask IL's if they'd get this for the boy's 1st birthday this summer - MIL loves anything that will help them develop quicker.

One poster said she didn't get the product since she had all the cards already (she was an elementary teacher)...but most people said their babies were actually learning from it very young.?

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as a former kindergarten teacher i find these programs pretty gross, IMO.  If your child is ready to learn to read, he/she will do it on their own if you surround them with literature and read to them a lot, talk about the words/letters, etc. 

any program that forces a child to learn route memory reading is not good, IMO.... it does not teach comprehension- just phonics. yeah- they can read a word - but do they have a clue what it means or how it's used in context? generally, no. THAT is true reading.

i think the commercials play on the emotions of parents who want their kids to do better when they get to school- and rips them off.

If your boys love books- just keep reading to them.  Buy them games with words/letters, etc... but don't waste your money on these programs.... and let your kids be kids - and learn to read at their own pace.

lutzcowgirlie

I'm in agreement with Goldie on this one. As a former English teacher, one of the major problems that I saw with my high school students was the disconnect between word recognition and reading. I had kids who could go through a passage and pronounce and recite all the words just fine, but couldn't begin to tell you what it was about or what it meant. Just because a kid can recognize sounds and letters doesn't mean he is doing the most important part of reading - comprehending.

Bogustime

Goldie_Locks, don't make so many assumptions! My kids ARE kids. I don't have any plans to lock them in the house all day and force them to read at 21 months, they just seem to have a real love of learning at this point, why not take advantage of that? It's long been proven that children have a natural ability to learn a language at this age and it stands to reason that learning to read would fall into that as well.

lutzcowgirlie

I'm going out on a limb here, because I said I agreed with Goldie, but you seem upset about what she was saying. I don't think she was suggesting that *YOU* were doing these things to your children. She was criticizing the people who try to make money by preying on parents who would like to help their children to be successful learners by selling products that imply they will teach something other than what they are teaching.

 

As I said in my first post, plenty of kids can learn to recognize words and letters. These programs help to speed that process through repitition and memory. True reading - involving processing and comprehension - really comes through things that good parents do naturally. The best way to teach reading is through modelling - reading to your kids and reading in front of them so that they know reading is enjoyable. Allowing them access to books. Encouraging them in word play and active reading - not just going through a story, but interacting with the text.

 

Anyways - I would never criticize someone for being interested in a program like this. It could be enjoyable and even successful in teaching kids to recognize words. But I don't think they are honest in saying that babies will learn to *read*. HTH.

ADMIREDSEAZON

Hello all, I come in PEACE!

My mother bought the girls this program, and it helps them recongize the words, and then shows them a picture. The program is a DVD for the kids, but also for parents to sit with the child. There are 5 stages, each stage has a certain set of words. Each stage also has is own dvd, set of flash cards, and a book. The dvd encourages parents not to allow television, and to read to your childern and point out the words you are reading. I'm not a teacher or anything, but I've noticed the girls love the video, and they are starting to understand a few of the words. When we sing songs or I ask them to do something they seem to understand (then again they are getting a better comprehension of english everyday). I think its helpful, but only to assist with the books you currently read.

Please note you can't just stick the dvd on and not particapate, you have to really particate with the video. Flash cards and reading can help, due to all the repeation, this is just another bonus. I was just telling my mom today, I couldn't do this if I wasn't a stay at home mom....it takes ALOT of time and energy. I'm just happy that I can add something else to our day, because with weather like this we can't do to much!

Have a good day!

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lutzcowgirlie:

I'm going out on a limb here, because I said I agreed with Goldie, but you seem upset about what she was saying. I don't think she was suggesting that *YOU* were doing these things to your children. She was criticizing the people who try to make money by preying on parents who would like to help their children to be successful learners by selling products that imply they will teach something other than what they are teaching.

 

As I said in my first post, plenty of kids can learn to recognize words and letters. These programs help to speed that process through repitition and memory. True reading - involving processing and comprehension - really comes through things that good parents do naturally. The best way to teach reading is through modelling - reading to your kids and reading in front of them so that they know reading is enjoyable. Allowing them access to books. Encouraging them in word play and active reading - not just going through a story, but interacting with the text.

 

Anyways - I would never criticize someone for being interested in a program like this. It could be enjoyable and even successful in teaching kids to recognize words. But I don't think they are honest in saying that babies will learn to *read*. HTH.

everything she said   I wasn't saying YOU were diong this- but the makers of the program... they play on us parents and make money off of something that is not needed.

a love of books is a great thing- and will help your child learn naturally.  I am early childhood certified- and took many courses in teaching children to read (and comprehend) and this is not the way to go with a young child.

Reading every day, talking about words, labeling things in your house (which is why classrooms do this) pointing out photos and talking about story structure (what will happen next? why do you think the character did that? etc) - that's what will raelly help your children- wihch i am sure you alraedy do.