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Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
Your Baby Can Read
We just got this for DD, haven't started using it yet. Does anyone else use this program? If so, what is your schedule? What have the results been like? TIA 
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Re: Your Baby Can Read
I love these posts.
yes, we have it, he enjoyed it, so we would let him watch 4-5 times a week, read the books all the time... he loves them!
We never did flash cards to try to get him to read, but we read them with him a lot. We also read lots of other books and I always tell him the words of what we're doing, playing with, eating, etc. I'm very aware to tell him what everything is, and say it clearly so he knows.
He speaks in sentences, sometimes counts to 10, can finish a string of the alphabet (like we say abcd, he says efg), at the fireworks he was scared and said "scared, I go in Mumma's car, I go buh-bye?" over and over. Overall, I like the DVDs and the books because they are just another learning tool... but I didn't stick to the schedule they recommend. Personally, I don't think memorizing is reading, but it is learning.
I am interested in other's opinions and feedback regarding this program. My DH and I discussed it and decided against it for a few reasons.
Exactly.
Exactly.
Exactly.
Exactly. It's just memorizing... I hope people really don't think it will teach their chid to read. What happens when they come to a word they don't know? They have to actually learn to read then - phonetically.
I think your child is speaking so well b/c you read to him alot. Not sure if the program is the answer- you're doing the same thing by everything I highlighted! It seems to be the answer for us. DS also speaks in sentences, counts to 20 and knows most of his alphabet. Knows he can "take milk to go play" and strings along other phrases. Not knocking your belief in the your baby can read but give more props to yourself for what you have reinforced!
Education profesionals will tell you that this program is simply memorization and that your child is not actually reading. That being said, the program can actually hinder thier reading skills in the future because they have been programmed to memorize a word and not sound it our phonetically. Why does your baby need to read anyway? They will get much more out of having you read books to them and spending time learning skills that are age appropriate.
This made me laugh out loud.
I personally think that if you want to instill a love of learning and reading, read to them frequently and make it fun.
The problem with learning from flashcards is that the child is memorizing the "shape" of the entire word, rather than learning each letter sound and putting it together to sound out words. So they're not learning any useful skill for tackling new words or actually reading anything for themselves.
I can't believe people are still falling for this memorization program.
DS can count to 15, knows most of abc's, talks in long senteces and has a great vocabulary. He can also pick out words in his favorite books.
We read books, use cheap flashcards and spend time in conversation discussing things during the day. No special "program" needed.
It's a GIRL!!
It's a GIRL!!
Thanks for the comments. It was an early bday gift from my dad - he thought we would be on board with it. I haven't done much research into this and wanted to get some of your thoughts. I think if we do end up using it, there won't be any specific scheduling, and we def are not trying to make her into a "super child" - just want to expose her to anything that will assist with her development.
Again, thanks to all who made constructive comments.
I guess I don't get why people are literally afraid of this DVD set. I never said "I suck as a mom, this DVD is the only reason my kid is smart." I was against the set because it's $200 and that's ridiculous. MIL insisted.
I do not believe that the DVDs made Gio talk early, but they certainly didn't hurt his vocabulary. Reading is awesome... so is showing your baby how to read. Plopping your kid down in front of a DVD 3 times a day and then quizzing him with flashcards is insane, and anyone who would do that is insane... not the program. People need to get over it.
Yeah, I always giggle at people who buy these things. These kids won't be any better of reader than the kids whose parents just did normal reading and letter stuff with them. Waste-oh-money.
As a former kindergarten teacher, it was my job to teach children to read. Babies cannot learn to read. They can memorize pictures & words, but that is not reading. Unless you do the flashcards often until your child reaches school-age, they will not remember them, so I think it's pretty pointless.
At best, it exposes your child to the printed word, which can be acheived just by reading to them.
I suppose I AM afraid of it. I am grossed out by the common belief that more is better, being more mature is better, kids need to do more, be more, have more, progress faster, act older, etc. I am afraid of people not valuing what humans can do given time and un-entertained/distracted brains....and when letting children develop with a more natural rate and sequence.
And I think YBCR is just another contributer to the problem. There are SO MANY things my child needs to explore and develop before she needs to start reading. There is a lot of value in pre-reading and play skills. In the long run, it is best to have intact PRE-reading skills as a prerequisite for learning to read.
No I don't think the program will kill your kid, but I do think it is completely unnecessary and consumes space that could be used for something else.
Well said.
Your kid is going to have years of having information crammed into his head in school.
While he's a baby, let him be a baby.