Your Baby Can Read?

lrb · March 2010

Has anyone has looked into this program? I keep hearing about it on the radio and then I saw an infomercial on it in the middle of the night a few days ago. It definitely got my attention, but I fall into those traps pretty easy!

Anyone know if it is worth it? Just wondering if there are any first-hand experiences with it here on the board. TIA!

michelleaxo · March 2010

I want it. But I am a SUCKER for infomercials. My previous purchases include: the AbTronic (wear an electrode thing that works your abs), the Ninja, Miracle Knives, OxiClean, Kaboom.....I could go on an on and on and on. Make some crap item, put it on TV and you have a buyer right here. DH has banned me from infomercials. Embarrassed

2H2L · March 2010

I also thought the infomercial was pretty tempting...have you looked at the website? It's crazy expensive. I think I remember it was over $500 or something outrageous when I looked it up.

eta: huh, I just looked again and it's only $200. I thought I remembered it being more.

Abrooks · March 2010

DH saw that infomercial at 3am while working one night and a week later - 2 big boxes of stuff arrived. DVDs, flashcards, books, etc. We have the whole set. Do I think it could work? Yes, I do. Do I think it's going to? No - b/c we don't follow the protocal. You have to watch the same DVD 2x per day for 30 days. Then you add in another one. But - basically it's 2x per day for the DVD - not counting flashcards, etc. We just can't do it. And DD is old enough now that she's learning phonics - which I like. The program for YBCR is all straight memorization.

DD does like the DVDs when we watch them (which is rare.) I tried to do it for a bit but we never could stay consistent w/ it. DD also likes the books that come w/ it. So she looks at that but we haven't followed the program.

(I would totally let you borrow it too - if I can find all the parts.)

smb29 · March 2010

I haven't, but a good friend has used it with her kids (they totally fell for the late night infomercial) and she said it was great. Its a lot of work though, they have to watch a video twice a day and you show them flashcards everyday. But her 2 year old reads (or at least recognizes words and works on sounding things out).

lrb · March 2010

If I bought it, I'd do some ebay bidding. I even have seen a few creep up on CL from time to time. Who knows if those are legit, but definitely cheaper to look that direction first. Hmmmm.

fjaril · March 2010

they have it at buy buy baby now for 100 bucks.

I was supposed to borrow it from someone, but never got around to following through. I guess that means I wouldn't follow through with the program either

lrb · March 2010

Oh, ABrooks- I'd be interested. Can you copy the dvd's... I know, so bad to even ask, but I'd pay for a bootleg copy just to see what it's all about! I'd much rather put that on the tv each day than subject myself to Max&Ruby which seems to be the cartoon of choice right now. Jake did speech through ECI for about 6 months and while he has caught up, I just feel like any little thing I can do to help him get ahead is in his best interest.

Oh, and I'm an infomercial nut too. I've got more stuff under my sink than I should admit. I do love my Mighty Putty thought and I need to use it this afternoon.... off to dig it out...

userdeleted · March 2010

I have not used this program, but I do have some thoughts on it.

I believe that if you follow the program, you will likely have success in teaching your baby to memorize things from flashcards, but that is not reading. Reading involves many different cognitive skills, and really should be learned in context (ie from a book, signs, etc). I also don't think that learning to memorize at a young age will convey any kind of future benefit whatsoever.

I highly recommend a book called Einstein Never Used Flashcards:How Our Children Really Learn, and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less by Roberta Michnick Golinkoff Ph.D., Kathy Hirsh-Pasek Ph.D., and Diane Eyer Ph.D if child development is something you happen to be interested in. I read it and it's very informative - it also has a lot of fun ideas for how to encourage appropriate development

Here is a link to the book: https://www.amazon.com/Einstein-Never-Used-Flashcards-Learn/dp/1594860688/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269457193&sr=8-1

I own it, and if anyone is interested in borrowing it I'd be happy to lend it out!

rssnlvr · March 2010

Rach--I'd love to borrow that book! Will you be at the easter egg hunt? Do you have my email? (if not, use rssnlvr at yahoo and I can send you my address.)

ali-1411 · March 2010

I don't have it or know anybody that has it. I'm not being snarky, but I don't understand why anyone would WANT their toddler to read? Jakob learned how to read in kinder. What's wrong with waiting until they are 5 or 6?

userdeleted · March 2010

rssnlvr:
Rach--I'd love to borrow that book! Will you be at the easter egg hunt? Do you have my email? (if not, use rssnlvr at yahoo and I can send you my address.)

ygm

abbysmom1005 · March 2010

I also hae no personal experience from the program. But MIL wanted to buy it from Abby when she was young so I did some researching.

I was about to type up something long, but Rach summed up what I was going to say perfectly.

Rach03k:
I have not used this program, but I do have some thoughts on it.
I believe that if you follow the program, you will likely have success in teaching your baby to memorize things from flashcards, but that is not reading. Reading involves many different cognitive skills, and really should be learned in context (ie from a book, signs, etc). I also don't think that learning to memorize at a young age will convey any kind of future benefit whatsoever.

IMO it is not reading it is recall and memorization. I will even say I have absolutely nothing against flash cards if used properly. I have a set of hooked on phonics one for PK and one for Kinder. It obviously uses flashcards but while playing games etc. I would much rather my kids learn letter sounds, phonics and how to read not how to memorize. I think it is much more beneficial to them.

I still have the PreK hooked on phonics set if you are interested you can borrow it. Abby is now on the Kinder and is actually reading now and has been since she was about 3.5- 4.

MrsHoyt · March 2010

ali-1411:

I don't have it or know anybody that has it. I'm not being snarky, but I don't understand why anyone would WANT their toddler to read? Jakob learned how to read in kinder. What's wrong with waiting until they are 5 or 6?

That's a good question. I think maybe because, as pp said, it may help when they enter school and put them a little ahead? I dunno.

It be a really cool party trick, though. Look! My baby is 11 months old and can read the New York Times!

Abrooks · March 2010

lrb:

Oh, ABrooks- I'd be interested. Can you copy the dvd's... I know, so bad to even ask, but I'd pay for a bootleg copy just to see what it's all about! I'd much rather put that on the tv each day than subject myself to Max&Ruby which seems to be the cartoon of choice right now. Jake did speech through ECI for about 6 months and while he has caught up, I just feel like any little thing I can do to help him get ahead is in his best interest.

I won't copy them since it's illegal and all. But you can borrow the DVDs. I've got all those and we rarely watch them anymore. Email me your address and I'll send the first couple to you. Oh - and it's annoying but not nearly as bad as Max and Ruby.

MassageMomma2010 · March 2010

I haven't used it personally but I have gone back and forth with myself if I would want to shell out money for it. It seems pretty straight forward, kids learn languages by seeing the written word, hearing it pronounced, and seeing a picture of it, and then repeating it (if they are old enough).

It's probably more beneficial in the aspect that your child is used to learning before they go to school. Maybe makes that transition easier.

I want to be my kids first teacher so I will probably introduce some sort of flash card, early educational program when they are about 11-12 months old.

Interested to hear the reviews of mom's who have used it!

KateAggie · March 2010

MrsRosie:
lrb:

Oh, and I'm an infomercial nut too. I've got more stuff under my sink than I should admit. I do love my Mighty Putty thought and I need to use it this afternoon.... off to dig it out...

SlapChop = FAIL.

Rosie, no!!!! I still love mine...you didn't like it???

kellenickle · March 2010

We had it. the only positive we got out of it is that when we returned it we got to keep a book that dd likes. And the return policy was easy. We just couldn't commit to the time, like pp said. Also, dd seemed bored by the dvd and wasn't interested in sitting through it two times a day. some kids would probably like it. it was just a lot of money for something she (and we) didn't love.

monkeylamb · March 2010

My DD is glued to it every afternoon when I get home from work. She loves it! I can't say I totally believe it is going to teach her to read, but I'd rather her watch something educational with no commerical interruptions than other types of TV. She has "read" the words hi, wave and tiger. The theory behind it is that babies are in the prime development stages for reading far before they start school and that reading ability is a fundamental skill necessary for learning in all areas. Again, I never purchased it thinking my toddler would be reading novels, but I figured it wouldn't hurt anything to let her watch it. It does take a lot of time and consistency, but my nanny is awesome with it. It was actually her idea.

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