Seeking Other Moms with Experience with "Your Baby Can Read" Educational System

Dear Tiffany,

This is just my personal opinion and I don't mean to offend, but I have to agree with the moms who are against the reading program.

I have a 3 month old and I think it is more important for her to be learning to communicate her needs, finding ways of moving around, and exploring her new world than trying to "get ahead". Besides, I read recently that statistically the children on these types of advanced reading programs level out with those that weren't on the program by 1st or 2nd grade (sorry, I wasn't able to find the source again). I know you just want the best for your sweet little baby, but I don't think a program that has him studying flashcards or sitting in front of the TV is the answer. His time is much better spent interacting with you.

Here's an interesting website on how to raise a smart kid: http://www.raisesmartkid.com/articles/how-to-raise-a-smar...

Perhaps when he gets older you could help him learn a few simple baby signs. I am talking about basic signs for simple words or feelings such as dog, hot, wet diaper, milk, etc and not the extensive language of the American Sign Language. The book Baby Signs by Acredolo and Goodwyn is very simple and straight forward. These simple signs help babies to communicate and help prevent frustration. And even if the babies don't get ahead in the long run at least they are better able to communicate their needs for several months before they can talk.

That being said...do what you feel in your gut to be right for your little boy.

All the best to you and your baby,

K.

I agree with the mom that pointed out that 'how' to read isn't the same as 'love' to read. The local library is great. They have story time and such just for little ones. Personally we spent our money on building a home library (not a room, but lots of kids books on low shelves). I read to my girls several times a day starting just about 2 months (spent all extra time sleeping during their first 8 weeks!). Make reading a fun part of their daily lives. Part of the 'love' to read thing is mommy reading in funny voices and silly pictures to look at. Any kind of rote 'learning' or flash card style 'reading' is not really fun, or inspiring, or even entertaining, for a young child. It is more 'monkey say monkey do', which has some developmental value, but is no different than learning to wave bye bye.
When my kids were babies there was a lot of pressure in my neighborhood to send kids to an early learning center that promised kids reading by 3 years. However when I did some checking, all research showed that kids that learned to read at age 3-4yrs and kids that learned to read at 6-7 yrs, all read at the same levels by 4th grade. No benefit, other than bragging rights that 'my kid learned to read by 3'.

I'd say save your money and enjoy your baby. He will learn to read just fine later. :o)

I have to agree with Chandra. I have a brain-injured child and we were accepted at the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential. It was a marvelous program as Chandra says. I made all the Bits of Intelligence myself.My child who is Down Syndrome was started on a program at 3 months. Although she could not speak she could read at 1 1/2 years old. We would throw words on the floor and she would put them into sentences. She reads very well as well as spells very well. Her nephew is always asking her how to spell something and he is 15 years old. She likes to type the books she reads so she types the book on her computer as she is reading it with all the punctuation in it. The Institutes and all the people there are marvelous. And by the way, they have been teaching babies to read for over 60 years. Look into their program--every child there no matter how brain-injured they are can read! I disagree with those that say not to start your baby early--the younger they are the faster they lean because their brains are growing at such a fast rate.If you teach two kids to read at the same time, the youngest one will pick it up faster. After my child was able to talk, which was the hardest thing to get her to do,she suddenly started to read the words to me before I could say them and what a glorious day that was. If my child who was technically dead and birth and they did not even know if she would survive even at four can learn to read your child will blow you mind. Good luck. If you want to talk to me about what I did I would be glad to show you what we did. K.

Just my two cents: I'm not sure what this "system" is, but personally I think your money and time would be better spent borrowing picture books from the library and spending time doing things like reading and talking with your son and taking him to things like baby/toddler lap sits and story times at your local library.

I'm a bit suspicious of any "system" that supposedly teaches babies to read. Besides, there are so many other age-appropriate things for babies to learn (you know, sitting up, crawling, peek-a-boo, etc. ;-)) that I'm really doubtful that adding 'reading' to the mix will provide a significant enough benefit to be worth the $$. If anything, I'd be worried that an emphasis on trying to produce super-early readers might have some unintentional negative effects on other areas of a child's development.

BTW, I have a couple of 7.5YOs that *love* reading and I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that they've been visiting our local public libraries on average at least once a week pretty much all their life, and we've always spent time reading together (even though they read well independently, I still read to them every night before bedtime). Teaching a kid *how* to read is not always the same as helping a kid learn to *love* reading.

Hi Tiffany,

I haven't used that program, however I have used Glen Doman's program. And it works!
http://www.iahp.org/fileadmin/PDFs/GRPcatalog_2008.pdf

I'm not too sure if it's similar, but looking into http://www.iahp.org/ is worth it. I've attended his classes and they are AMAZING. I do all the infant developmental stuff on my jobs, and all the babies I work with are advanced and superior.

I recommend the book- How Smart is Your Baby by Janet and Glen Doman. It's a great book. And if you start now, you'll be amazed at how your baby develops. One of my clients felt bad about not starting earlier, however, I mentioned to her that PARENTING is a PERSPECTIVE of knowing and feeling your baby has opportunity to grow and learn in infancy stages. You will begin to treat your infant differently- and NOT waste anytime.

They say the first three years are the most important. What are you going to do with that time? So far, you're on the right track!

I also read a book called What's Going on in There by Lise Eliot. Amazing BOOK! It's a bit medical, however, you can skip over those parts and begin to understand that your infant is just waiting to be stimulated.

Good luck!

C. Giovanni
Miracle Nanny

I have to whole hardly agree with all the mom's who said start visiting the library (although 2 months is very early...I didn't start regularly reading to my kids until about 1 year..story time at the library about 2).

I must say that personally I find the ads for this product a bit distrubing. Babies aren't meant to read. They have too many other things to be learning at that time...think of all the development that happens in the first year. Developmentally they are not ready. Let them be babies and toddlers and explore the world in developmentally apporopriate ways....but that is a whole other post.

With that being said, I did teach 1st grade for 10 years and taught many kids to read. When I asked the parents of students I got who were already reading what they did, all would say, I just read to them. They taught themselves how to read.

I now have 5 1/2 year old twins about ready to start kinder who both started reading at 4 (taught themselves..although I fostered the environment). I did nothing but read to them and foster the love of reading (no flashcards needed...let them learn from the real thing...books). We go to the library weekly and they were in a play based preschool...no worksheets or flashcards...just good old fashion play which is so important in developing acacdemic/social skills.

As long as your child is exposed to books...all types of books, and is in an environment that fosters learning (including a print rich environment), he will learn to read and love reading. If reading is forced on a child when they are not developmentally ready, this will not happen. And kids are ready developmentally at all different times...anywhere from 3 to 7. I personally didn't start reading until I was almost 7, my husband was reading before he was 5.

So, you really need to do what you feel is best, but I would use that money to help develop a print rich environment...books, magazines, posters, ect. Sorry I seemed to ramble a bit...didn't realize how much those ads bugged me until I started writing :))

I have been a Mom of four children and a family child care Mom for 36 years, a Master Teacher Permit with the Dept. of Education, etc. I think all these kind of toys for young babies or even babies is a waste of money. There is a process for learning and a baby is too young. They need to play with little toys they can pick up but really their favorite toy is to have Mommy and Daddy play with them the old baby games like peep a boo. Let them lay on the floor on their tummy and learn to hold their head up, scoot around, roll over, etc. JMO
F.

I have seen something like this advertised. There are always some exceptional babies, but honestly the commercial I saw showed babies doing actions according to words shown on cards. This does not mean they are reading! I did see one older child (preschool age) actually reading. Actual reading means knowing phonics (patterns--letters, and combinations of letters, and the sounds that go with them) and being able to sound things out or "decode" new words. A baby can be trained to associate a word shape with an action or object---this is more like teaching symbols, like teaching them sign language. This could be mentally stimulating, or even beneficial to their communication or perceptions about language in some way, but it isn't reading, and it isn't necessary. A very bright, mature toddler would have more use for it than a baby. I agree with the other mother that using your library is a good way to expose your baby to more language.

We recently got this system and are using it with our 21 month old. Basically, she'll learn a few sight words with it. Whether that translates to early reading later on remains to be seen.

We have stacks and stacks of kids books and visit the library regularly - which I think is more important and more effective (as others have already pointed out). Our 5 yo started early reading at about age 4 without anything besides lots of reading to her and lots of exposure to books.

If you have limited resources, I think the better investment would be in some great children's classics with illustrations. On the other hand, if you've got the money to spare, there's nothing wrong with adding this system to what you're already doing with your kids.

Hi Tiffany,
While I am not a mother, I am an Early Childhood Education Specialist and I would highly recommend AGAINST anything that promotes reading before the age of 5 years old. Your child's brain does not develop the necessary tools to be prepared to read until 5 or 6 years old. By pushing your child towards skills they are not ready to master, you run the risk of damaging self-esteem. If you want your child to succeed academically, you should follow developmental guidelines and ensure that his social/emotional development is healthy. I recommend you read "Your Child's Growing Mind" by Jane Healy. This book will give you age-by-age guidelines about what is happening in your child's brain and what you can do to support the development.
Good luck!
T.

A child who learns to read at 2 is no different, in the end, than a child who learns to read at 10. But a child who learns to speak a second language at 2 is completely different than a child who learns at 10. Same goes for musical instruments. Early is better.

My suggestion is that you focus on one of these special things instead of the standard academics that he will acquire anyway.

I have a friend who wanted her child to acquire academic skills early. The child did, but by the time she was in 3rd grade, she was asking her mother to put her in classes that were BELOW her skill level. Why? Because she thought that being the best was the most important thing; even more important than learning. Her mother, of course, never intended to teach her that. It was very sad and very hard to change. This child was in pain when her classmates learned to read and write and she was no longer 'special.'

What happens, by the way, if your child is one who doesn't learn until he's 10? Many bright children learn later rather than earlier, and I encourage you to have confidence in your child no matter what his timeline.

Tiffany,

There's absolutely no benefit to your son in trying to teach him rote memory reading vs. real learned reading that will come at the proper age; he's not a monkey! However, if you're hopeful he'll be interested in books and reading, then read to him yourself. Find books that are appropriate for his age now (he's a young baby) then move on upwards depending upon his aptitude. I read books to my 4½ year old that could be meant for a 7 or 8 year old, and explain things to him if I think it's too hard (plus, he likes the pictures). Most importantly, we are cuddled up together doing something we both like. Plus, let him look through books on his own and teach him to respect them. Sure, a few may be tasted, bitten or tested with a crayon, or even ripped a bit, but as he matures you can help him to respect his books. I got lucky, mine was always very good with his books, but they're HIS books, so as long as he's reasonable he should be able to enjoy them as he wishes. What's important is the contact he has with them. Don't worry, your son will be a passionate reader one day ... perhaps a bit like his Mother?

Can I recommend a book titled 'Better Late than Early'? Seriously, isn't there enough pressure on children these days to be 'successful'?

Sorry to totally disagree with you, but programs like these make me very sad for kids.

not sure about it. Do post and let us know how it goes...looks amazing!

We got it. We love it. Its so cute. Ummm, no need to push. She only watches it for 20 minutes or so (plenty of time for free playing and other developmentally appropriate stuff), and she loves it. It doesn't just teach reading it has nice clear videos of "things" and cute songs-teaches them names of objects. in my opinion, if you need 20 minutes to prepare dinner or a bottle, its better than putting the baby in front of random cartoons. And its more simple and a nice reprieve from Sesame Street! At least it shows them the concept that words may be tied to "things"- i don't think it pushes at all. Anyone who thinks it "pushes" reading hasn't watched it. Now. . . if you are a pushy parent and make your kid watch it for hours straight- that is not right- but neither is pushing your child to do ANYTHING for hours straight. Variety is key. :)

Oh and its NOT the same as Sesame Street. My daughter also likes sesame street, but this is more clear and simple objects and words.

I agree with everything Collen said. I am an English professor, was an early reader and was in a gifted program. I also directed a writing program for extremely gifted youth. Please, please stay away from videos. Most pediatricians would caution against any TV before age two.

Sit that baby on your lap, get cozy and read any thing. It is the association of good feelings with mom or dad with reading that is key at this age. My oldest was an early reader (4) and my youngest is just now getting into the swing of things as he enters 1st grade. Each child is unique and early or late reading (especially for boys) does not necessarily correlate to academic success in the future. My experience with gifted kids is that those with parents who accelerated them, even with love and the best intentions, had many more stress-related issues than those that were raised in a rich, stimulating, but less structured environment.

Hi Tiffany,

In my humble yet honest opinion, don't waste your money. A child under a year is looking at the pictures, not reading text. I think Baby Einstein was a waste of money too. I read all of their books to my children over the years and I asked them today if they recall anything from those books. Both had answered no and told me that they hated the Baby Einstein books.

Just read to your child nightly, make it fun, and your baby will develop a love for reading. Both my kids are in elementary school and are excellent readers. I believe that is because we don't allow tv during the school week and only a couple of shows on the weekend. Good luck.

I can not verify for the program but I had a program in 2000 for about the same results and my children did read by four. I see their commericals and I can say I saw with my own eyes a 8 month child respond to their parents asking them if they were wet. So I would say the childs communication skills are based upon parents involvement.

I would before purchasing, try simple flash cards with photos upon them from any store with words in large font on the rear.

I would use my natural mothering skills to do finger pointing of my nose and say "Nose" and then use a card that says: "Nose" see if you do this for about seven days any results....then think about it....That is what they are saying their program performs. Cpy some of their techniques from the commercials.

If I was near you and had a young grandchild I would share the cost. Just a suggestion...." "Ask another mom to share cost." Economy is hard.

Hello,
I tried it with babybit DVDs and it worked very well. It was astonising to see the interest of my child in the flashcards and it was more astonising indeed to see how it was able to read more and more words as the programe go on.
You could find the DVDs on www.babybit.com.

Hi Tiffany,
I really wanted to order this after seeing the infomercial a couple of times. I Googled it and found a lot of negative reviews. The reviews that made me decide not to spend the $200 were the reviews that said they tried to return the product when it didn't work to the parents' satisfaction and the company found a loop hole out of their return policy.
:) S.