16 answers

Your Baby Can Read as Seen on TV

Has anyone tried the "Your Baby Can Read" program shown on TV? The ads make it look so amazing that you child can read before the age of 2. I have a 15 month old son that I would love to try it with, but would like some input from real life moms, not those on the TV commercial. Does it really work?

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Featured Answers

Those infomercials are really impressive! From what I've read about this program, and others like it...yes, they work...sort-of. Children (and, incidentally, monkeys as well) can be taught to read at extremely early ages, but it's largely a mechanism of memorization. The one thing I read that made me decide against using it with my 19 month old mentioned that children taught with these types of programs don't show any additional advantage once their peers are reading as well. The article also mentioned that some of these kids also show some difficulties with logic and reasoning...presumably from the early focus on memorization rather than the usual progression of child learning. Good luck with whatever you decide!

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My daughter is 13 months old and my parents got the My Baby Can Read system for her for her birthday. She LOVES it! I was skeptical...but told my parents they could get it and I would use it if she enjoyed it...but I wasn't going to force anythign on her. Well, she begs to watch the video...it is about the only TV she watches...and she watches it once or twice a day. It also came with books and flash cards...she is ok with the flash cards...but LOVES the books...she will let me read it to her ten times in a row... Personally I was really impressed with the quality of the product too...everything is made very well and the video is entertaining and not annoying...I don't mind watching it over and over! I don't know that it will teach her to read...but she has learned to say sevral new words already...she's been watching the video and reading the books for just under a month. We probably watch the video at least once a day and read the book at least once a day...somtimes several times a day...just depending on if she asks for it. I didn't want to push anythign on her...but she loves it and it doesn't feel like I'm pusing her to read...etc. It is just fun to her. Anyway...I would vote yes!

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More Answers

I have not used this particluar method. Years ago I bought a book called Teach Your Baby To Read (by Doman). The program comes in a kit or you can get a computer version on Ebay. I made my own. It's very easy to do. I started with 10 flash cards the first week and added at least five a week.My son learned to read by 2 years old. I am currently making new cards for my daughter who is 2. I started a bit late with her due to pregnancy #3. She knows approximately 300 words by sight. I started with items she sees every day. See if your local bookstore has it in stock. It's not really necessary to read the whole book. There is also a website. He has other programs...math, science, encyclopedic knowledge etc...

http://www.gentlerevolution.com/
You can sometimes find used copies of the kits on eBay too.

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Developmentally children are not ready to read until Kindergarten. Some children are ready to begin pre-reading skills at age 4, but the vast majority are not developmentally ready to read until Kindergarten.

1 mom found this helpful

Those infomercials are really impressive! From what I've read about this program, and others like it...yes, they work...sort-of. Children (and, incidentally, monkeys as well) can be taught to read at extremely early ages, but it's largely a mechanism of memorization. The one thing I read that made me decide against using it with my 19 month old mentioned that children taught with these types of programs don't show any additional advantage once their peers are reading as well. The article also mentioned that some of these kids also show some difficulties with logic and reasoning...presumably from the early focus on memorization rather than the usual progression of child learning. Good luck with whatever you decide!

1 mom found this helpful

There is so much for a baby to learn and to do - like getting dressed, colouring, using the potty, cutting food, catching a ball, throwing, digging, pouring, measuring, sharing, taking turns, jumping, skipping, climbing, drawing, scooping, running, pedaling...

My daughter learned to read at 2 like she learned all these other things - as a natural part of life. A lot of it was just sitting on our laps reading books she loved, especially ones where she followed along "reading" the rebus-like pictures like in the book about the horse looking for where all the apples went. The alphabet she learned by singing and because at day care there was the alphabet along the wall.

This way, she learned it like everything else and it became a deep part of herself. The goal was not to "teach her to read." But she learned anyway - sounding words out, and was thus reading "The Little House on the Prairie" series as she turned 4 and "Anne of Green Gables" & "Little Women" series at 5.

BUT There is a downside to this! Think about the newspaper. It is very scary! We had a two year old questioning what was in the paper. There are very scary things written everywhere, and I never thought I would EVER censor what my child would read, but at such a young age, I had to, especially since she could speed read at 4 faster than I can read. You have to be really careful. That's a big downside. You have to be careful. I had to make sure she didn't read even the books her older sister read for pleasure or for school (except textbooks) because there is dark contenet not suitable for a toddler/preschooler. They are not emotionally ready for the content even though they can read it. (The upside was that at 5 she could help her 8th grade sister with homework).

Oh well. I didn't even know there was a way to teach two year olds to read books on purpose. But we all expose them to a rich variety, and I see nothing wrong with it as long as we don't get frustrated with letting them go - or not go - at their own pace in whatever particular area... unless its an LD... sigh... and then it is work work work on that area.

1 mom found this helpful

My daughter is 13 months old and my parents got the My Baby Can Read system for her for her birthday. She LOVES it! I was skeptical...but told my parents they could get it and I would use it if she enjoyed it...but I wasn't going to force anythign on her. Well, she begs to watch the video...it is about the only TV she watches...and she watches it once or twice a day. It also came with books and flash cards...she is ok with the flash cards...but LOVES the books...she will let me read it to her ten times in a row... Personally I was really impressed with the quality of the product too...everything is made very well and the video is entertaining and not annoying...I don't mind watching it over and over! I don't know that it will teach her to read...but she has learned to say sevral new words already...she's been watching the video and reading the books for just under a month. We probably watch the video at least once a day and read the book at least once a day...somtimes several times a day...just depending on if she asks for it. I didn't want to push anythign on her...but she loves it and it doesn't feel like I'm pusing her to read...etc. It is just fun to her. Anyway...I would vote yes!

1 mom found this helpful

my friend has twins who are like 19 months old and she has used this program for her kids and the one twin actually read a flash card with the word and without a picture on it she said its working for her kids. I believe her and all I can say is try it out it cant hurt them to learn stuff like this.

1 mom found this helpful

I have not tried this but want to. I have seen the tv adds also. I lookd up on their website and it is $200. They have the same thing on ebay for $165.
If you get any good info about it, let me know. I would like to get it also.

1 mom found this helpful

As Ginny pointed out, while these programs show amazing results in the short term, the long-term studies indicate that children who learn to read through such rote/memorization programs do not show any greater reading or language skills than children who do not. And, echoing Ginny once more, some actually seem to be constricted in overall learning skills.
My grandson was reading and writing - very simple and cursory words and sentences - when he was three or four years old but this was not by virtue of a concerted learning program but merely by being read to and picking up words and phrases. He asked a lot of questions, too. "What's that word?" kind of thing. So I have done a lot of research into early learning programs. What I have found it that, as with the system you mentioned, there is no real advantage to starting a child on memorizing words that early.
Conversely, what has been shown to be an exceptional learning advantage for a child - across the board - is to get him or her involved in music. Piano/keyboards seem to be the greatest assist but children who have learned to play any instrument seem to score consistently higher than their classmates in all areas, including social. The general belief is that learning to play music triggers the same parts of the brain as does a complex mathematical equation. Exercing the brain, like any other muscle in the body, makes it stronger and better able to tackle a challenge. So, if you really want to help your toddler's brain grow the right way and give him the greatest help toward success in school and thereafter, start playing music for him now. Later, when he is in first or second grade, get him involved in playing the piano (it's easier for a youngster than, say, manhandling a cello or double-bass). Make music a part of his life and his brain will thank you for it later. (You might even pat yourself on the back when his college education is paid for by scholarship money instead of student loans!)

1 mom found this helpful

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