Your Baby Can Read?
- Thread starter WalkersMommy
- Start date
jessica31876
New member
ive been seeing it alot on the tv late at night but I never tried it. It does seem to good to be true. Maybe you could check someplace like ebay or craigslist to see if someone near you is selling it for less money
IMO, programs like this are not a great idea. Basically it's teaching sight words to your child. Just as it's possible for a baby to recognize their own sippy cup and diaper bag - eventually they will recognize words as well. But that doesn't mean they can read, kwim? I think the best way to go about teaching reading is via phonics, whenever they are ready - be that 3 or 6.
Just my thoughts!
Just my thoughts!
stayawake
New member
I haven't had any experience with that SPECIFIC program, but I really thought seriously about this when my daughter was 2 and a half, since she seemed so bright and kind of bored. And I didn't quite know what to be 'teaching' her, and wondered if I should be doing more. Some people believe it actually can train your child's brain to be more scholastic and in some ways 'smarter' to learn to read at a very early age. Many of my friends who've been teachers for a long time tell me that a child who learns to read at age 3 and one who learns to read at age 6 are still usually reading the same material in grade 3, with no advantage for the child who learned earlier.
My daughter will be 4 in a month, but has been sounding-out words herself for a few months. Still isn't quite reading 'books' yet but is really close. We just used a few helpful books from the library and did a little bit at a time as she was interested. We played reading like it was a 'game' and I decided not to push her to be a reader before kindergarten because it would only be for my own ego not for her benefit, really. We had fun playing reading! If you can find a book called Teach your child to read in just ten minutes a day / by Sidney Ledson it will tell you everything you need to know for CHEAP. He taught his daughters to read at 2 and 3, and has a school here in Canada that teachers preschoolers to read at that age, and has programs in a number of preschools and daycares. Easy easy, no videos, no fancy products. Construction paper or cue cards, markers and sometimes some snacks. It's all playing games with your kids too, and my daughter LOVED these games. Oh, and it's foundation is phonetic the learn all the proper sounds and phonics to sound words out and a few sight words too. If you're seriously interested please check out that book.
My daughter will be 4 in a month, but has been sounding-out words herself for a few months. Still isn't quite reading 'books' yet but is really close. We just used a few helpful books from the library and did a little bit at a time as she was interested. We played reading like it was a 'game' and I decided not to push her to be a reader before kindergarten because it would only be for my own ego not for her benefit, really. We had fun playing reading! If you can find a book called Teach your child to read in just ten minutes a day / by Sidney Ledson it will tell you everything you need to know for CHEAP. He taught his daughters to read at 2 and 3, and has a school here in Canada that teachers preschoolers to read at that age, and has programs in a number of preschools and daycares. Easy easy, no videos, no fancy products. Construction paper or cue cards, markers and sometimes some snacks. It's all playing games with your kids too, and my daughter LOVED these games. Oh, and it's foundation is phonetic the learn all the proper sounds and phonics to sound words out and a few sight words too. If you're seriously interested please check out that book.
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LenaGardner
New member
My problem with things like this...is that all sorts of brilliant people...all over the world...chemists, engineers, neurosurgeons, the like...didn't read as babies and they still turned out ok 
lauren grier
you're like stars
this
and this
I actually cringe when I see those commercials hahahah. You can teach anyone anything with repitition/basic conditioning.. but is it valuable? is it actual learning? does it really benefit them? no.. not really. I mean if your 4 year old is showing interest in reading and starts sounding out words like lindy's kidlet.. that's totally different. But this stuff is just wackadoo business imo LOL
and this
My problem with things like this...is that all sorts of brilliant people...all over the world...chemists, engineers, neurosurgeons, the like...didn't read as babies and they still turned out ok
I actually cringe when I see those commercials hahahah. You can teach anyone anything with repitition/basic conditioning.. but is it valuable? is it actual learning? does it really benefit them? no.. not really. I mean if your 4 year old is showing interest in reading and starts sounding out words like lindy's kidlet.. that's totally different. But this stuff is just wackadoo business imo LOL
MamaBee
Sweet Shoppe SugarBabe
I agree... I had a college student stop at my house the other day trying to sell me one of these programs... she started out with what is the lastest and hottest program, "spot reading"... this isn't the latest thing... this is what my dad had in the 1950's... and what I went through in the 1980's... granted, we learned how to read sooner, but we are horrible spellers since we didn't learn phonics and need to picture the word in our heads before we can spell it.
Sharon Kay
New member
When they are ready...they will start reading...they will ask you for help by asking you what words are and such. Why push it? Let them be babies...let them be toddlers...you'll know when they are really ready...
My oldest was reading by age 2...did I train him? No. He started asking when he was ONE year old what words were when he saw them...he would recognize them in other places (i.e. asking what STOP on a stop sign was...then recognizing the same word in a book or on a bulletin board on the highway)...the family never believed me until his 2nd birthday...(and we have it on tape). The family was gathered for his birthday...he was ripping open his presents as fast as he could...I was reading the birthday cards as quickly as I could as he was opening. I read a card...and he literally glanced over at it and said "you forgot HAVE FUN" and continued opening the present. The family started laughing and was at that point convinced. ROTFL
Some background on him...I worked part time until he was two...he was sick every month for almost 2 years with ear infections so I spent a lot of time reading to him...especially hours of waiting in the Pediatrician's office...and he was an AVID watcher of Sesame Street! So read read read to your child!
He was, however, an exception to the rule...when the other kindergarteners were huddled on the floor learning the different sounds of A...he was off at the table reading the Rocky Planets by Isaac Asimov. He just learned from "living". His kindergarten teacher had not ever seen a child read that early and comprehend so much of what he was reading. Shame they wouldn't let him skip a grade...they even had him start late because his birthday was in December.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Isaac-Asimovs-the-Rocky-Planets-1994_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ280162278216
However, on the next 2 kids it wasn't until they were 4 or 5 before they really became interested in reading and wanted to learn. They caught on really quickly...but the BOB books (Scholastic) is what helped them learn to read. They liked those better than what was taught in kindergarten. We tried Reader Rabbit and another reading program that was sold through Scholastic books...but they didn't like them. I read to them but not nearly as much as I did to their older brother...my hands were a little busier with having 3 kids (and 2 were 17 months apart).
Don't worry about it...if your child isn't ready until Kindergarten...that's okay...they have teachers there in school to TEACH your child to read.
My oldest was reading by age 2...did I train him? No. He started asking when he was ONE year old what words were when he saw them...he would recognize them in other places (i.e. asking what STOP on a stop sign was...then recognizing the same word in a book or on a bulletin board on the highway)...the family never believed me until his 2nd birthday...(and we have it on tape). The family was gathered for his birthday...he was ripping open his presents as fast as he could...I was reading the birthday cards as quickly as I could as he was opening. I read a card...and he literally glanced over at it and said "you forgot HAVE FUN" and continued opening the present. The family started laughing and was at that point convinced. ROTFL
Some background on him...I worked part time until he was two...he was sick every month for almost 2 years with ear infections so I spent a lot of time reading to him...especially hours of waiting in the Pediatrician's office...and he was an AVID watcher of Sesame Street! So read read read to your child!
He was, however, an exception to the rule...when the other kindergarteners were huddled on the floor learning the different sounds of A...he was off at the table reading the Rocky Planets by Isaac Asimov. He just learned from "living". His kindergarten teacher had not ever seen a child read that early and comprehend so much of what he was reading. Shame they wouldn't let him skip a grade...they even had him start late because his birthday was in December.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Isaac-Asimovs-the-Rocky-Planets-1994_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ280162278216
However, on the next 2 kids it wasn't until they were 4 or 5 before they really became interested in reading and wanted to learn. They caught on really quickly...but the BOB books (Scholastic) is what helped them learn to read. They liked those better than what was taught in kindergarten. We tried Reader Rabbit and another reading program that was sold through Scholastic books...but they didn't like them. I read to them but not nearly as much as I did to their older brother...my hands were a little busier with having 3 kids (and 2 were 17 months apart).
Don't worry about it...if your child isn't ready until Kindergarten...that's okay...they have teachers there in school to TEACH your child to read.
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schock77
New member
I second close captioning... my kid read early and my 3 year old is starting (of course, I'm a teacher so perhaps I "teach" more than I realize), but it's all a matter of exposure. Phonics games and readalouds are way more fun, just as effective and more developmentally appropriate too!
WalkersMommy
New member
That is a great point that I didn't think of!
Thank you all for your input, I really appreciate it
I am just worried about DS learning to read because I don't know what my deal was, but I was always a slooooow reader and was always behind reading books in school. I always got great grades because I worked hard to catch up, but I remember being so stressed out in like 3rd grade because I couldn't read as fast as the other kids 
lol. Even in high school I read slower and eventually resorted to cliff notes hahaa. So, I guess I'm just paranoid because I don't want my precious boy to go through what I did.You guys have made me feel better though
DS loves books so we read everyday. I know he will be fine, but I just always hated reading and I don't want him to be that way. kwim?Susan Bartolini
New member
Yeah...those commercials drive me crazy. What is the value in having your baby be able to "read"? So what? I agree that the baby is just learning site words and not actually reading.
There is actually a counter argument to the value of a child learning to read early. Waldorf schools actually do not teach children to read until SECOND GRADE. This method argues that focusing on things like letters and reading actually stifles your child's creativity and imagination. Children that go to Waldorf schools actually meet or exceed testing standards at the end of their academic career.....so they aren't missing out by learning to read so late. It is an interesting approach (very liberal). I would consider sending my daughter to the Waldorf school near us if it wasn't so damn expensive.
Susan
There is actually a counter argument to the value of a child learning to read early. Waldorf schools actually do not teach children to read until SECOND GRADE. This method argues that focusing on things like letters and reading actually stifles your child's creativity and imagination. Children that go to Waldorf schools actually meet or exceed testing standards at the end of their academic career.....so they aren't missing out by learning to read so late. It is an interesting approach (very liberal). I would consider sending my daughter to the Waldorf school near us if it wasn't so damn expensive.
Susan
WalkersMommy
New member
Ainwena
New member
I wouldn't do it that program. As a middle school teacher, I encounter resistance to reading all the time, and one of the number one reasons why when I speak to kids is (I have found) that their parents did not read to them or read enough to them when they were little. Nor were their parents readers-they didn't model reading habits, or they had poor quality reading materials in the home. In many cases, kids were pushed to read when they weren't ready, and then resisted it later on.
I think at the preschool level, it is the most important to get them excited about reading rather than trying to teach it. Read to them at least a half hour a day, and when you take a break from daily life, pick up a book and sit on the couch while your kids are playing. Make sure they have lots of quality reading books and easy access to them. After awhile, they will start to mimic you. When they are ready to learn, they will start on their own, and that will be your cue to start working with letter recognition.
I think at the preschool level, it is the most important to get them excited about reading rather than trying to teach it. Read to them at least a half hour a day, and when you take a break from daily life, pick up a book and sit on the couch while your kids are playing. Make sure they have lots of quality reading books and easy access to them. After awhile, they will start to mimic you. When they are ready to learn, they will start on their own, and that will be your cue to start working with letter recognition.
Voodoo_Bryn
New member
We got this as a gift from my mother in law... my son's attention span doesn't seem to fit the videos. He can watch the first half... but he never ever gets to the second "learning" half. LOL.
I hate to say I feel like she wasted $200, but...
I hate to say I feel like she wasted $200, but...
4noisyboys
New member
I second the book "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons". You don't even have to use it at an early age though. I used it with my third son who had learning difficulties when he was 8. It took us awhile, but he had a good foundation when he was done.
My youngest was only 4 though, and he picked it up just by listening to me with his older brother. He taught himself to read, and was reading chapter books by 5. That's just him though.
Susan...I totally love the Waldorf approach. Yes, they are expensive, and they aren't in every area. Seattle was too far for us to drive back then even if I could've afforded it (which I couldn't!!). I did do a lot of the things they teach though. My boys played and had fun when they were small. We really didn't start formal education till my boys were 8. Again, my youngest was a bit of an exception though. He chose to read and wanted to learn math. I figured if they asked for it, I would teach them!!
So...bottom line....let kids be kids!!! Don't try to keep up with anyone else. Just relax and let them have fun and play! Check out the toys and games that are used in the Waldorf schools. You can make some of your own...you don't need to buy the really expensive things!
My youngest was only 4 though, and he picked it up just by listening to me with his older brother. He taught himself to read, and was reading chapter books by 5. That's just him though.
Susan...I totally love the Waldorf approach. Yes, they are expensive, and they aren't in every area. Seattle was too far for us to drive back then even if I could've afforded it (which I couldn't!!). I did do a lot of the things they teach though. My boys played and had fun when they were small. We really didn't start formal education till my boys were 8. Again, my youngest was a bit of an exception though. He chose to read and wanted to learn math. I figured if they asked for it, I would teach them!!
So...bottom line....let kids be kids!!! Don't try to keep up with anyone else. Just relax and let them have fun and play! Check out the toys and games that are used in the Waldorf schools. You can make some of your own...you don't need to buy the really expensive things!
WalkersMommy
New member
I agree. Like I said, I think I am just paranoid that DS will be a slow reader like me lol. He loves book, we read everyday. I guess I will just (try to) stop worrying
EveRecinella
New member
Agree with this! Just for a bit of trivia for you, here in Denmark they don't even start teaching kids to read until the first grade, which is when most are 7-8 years old!
kristine
New member
I agree with those who said why would you want a baby to read? We've had some discussions on reading in our house, I'm a big believer in letting kids be kids, and that they will let you know when they are ready. We moved from England to Norway when our oldest was 4, the summer before she was supposed to start school. In Norway however, kids don't start school until they are six, and although she knew what all the letters meant, at 4 she didn't really have any interest in reading. So I didn't push the issue, and SO, who is used to kids starting school at 4 was really worried that she would fall behind not being able to read, even though I tried to explain that nobody expected first graders to know how to read when they started school.
As it happened, once she started school, she learned in no time and she is one of the best readers in her class. I think she was just ready, and this summer (she is 7 now, just finished first grade) she has been reading Harry Potter to herself. So it all turned out good in the end!
We did do quite a lot of maths with her before she started school though, as she has always loved numbers. But it was on her terms, when she wanted to, and if she didn't want to do it for a while, we didn't push it.
As it happened, once she started school, she learned in no time and she is one of the best readers in her class. I think she was just ready, and this summer (she is 7 now, just finished first grade) she has been reading Harry Potter to herself. So it all turned out good in the end!
We did do quite a lot of maths with her before she started school though, as she has always loved numbers. But it was on her terms, when she wanted to, and if she didn't want to do it for a while, we didn't push it.