Your Baby Can Read - - Walnut Creek,CA

Kids get big vocabularies from having actual people talk to them. I bet that you know lots of words! I definitely would not get hoodwinked into the idea that a baby is going to get more out of TV than human interaction. Don't be fooled!!!

I agree that reading to your children is very important and i started at 2months. I also got butcher paper and taped it to the wall in my son's playroom when he was 11 months old and we would draw pictures. Just silly stuff. However, I let him lay in front of the tv when he was 6mos old almost everyday. I know what you are all thinking. I would only have PBS on or Baby First tv. I have to tell you, at the age of 2yrs he knew half the alphabet, most of his shapes and colors and numbes up to 6. One day at a stop light when he was 2yrs old, he was telling me numbers and letters. I thought to myself, what in the world is he telling me? I looked around and he was reading off the code from a utility box while we were stopped. His dr said he was advanced for his age but we didn't make a big deal out of it. At 2.5yrs old he could tell me the shapes of signs and colors. At 3yrs he can write his name, tell me how to spell it and how many letters are in it. So I broke all the rules. He sat in front of tv and was on the computer playing PBSkids.org games by the time he was 3yrs old. I have a 15 mos old boy that never watchs TV. I read to him every day, if he will sit still long enough. He isn't saying much right now and isn't interested in anything unless its physical. He was rolling over at 3 months, crawling and sitting up at 4mos and walking at 7.5mos. He is now trying to use the potty. Every child learns at their own pace. My dr isn't concerened about his speech yet since he understands commands and instrcution. He responds to his name and he is a happy little guy full of laughter and smiles. They just both have their own agenda. I think as parents we expect too much from our children at a very young age and we can also over load their brains with too much stuff. You can waste a lot of money buying all the educational toys and games etc. Only you can teach them but let them also be kids. Breaking the rules isn't a bad thing.

Enjoy this time it goes by so fast.

SAHM, 40yrs, with 2 funny little boys that move at the speed of light. They truly take my breath away.

I'm an elementary school teacher, age 40 and my sister is a professional writer, age 42; we both learned reading and vocabulary from our parents, who read to us and talked to/with/around us in regular adult language, not baby talk. We also watched some PBS kids' programs like Sesame Street, Electric Company and Mr. Rogers.

The best way to improve the vocabulary of your children is by reading and talking with them.

Use different vocabulary yourself: funny, hilarious, comical; fantastic, great, awesome, terrific; delicious, yummy, delectable (you get the idea). If you want to supplement with a DVD or Sesame Street, that's probably fine, but all the research I have read says that parental interaction is the most potent teaching of any subject. Modeling good reading behavior is also important. Kids are always curious about what their parents are doing so showing them that you read is going to inspire them too. I personally think that a DVD or TV is too passive and it's better (or certainly at least as important) that kids interact with words on a page, paper and pencil games when they are older, board/card games, and verbal communication when learning language. It's good that you plan on interacting with them using the DVD.

BTW, I also think it's probably OK to let them watch other educational programming, as long as they are not watching too much. Here's a link to an article about kids and TV:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/tv_affects_c...

Enjoy observing your kids' developing language skills!

You know what is THE best reading program for babies there is? YOU! Taking the time every day to sit down and read to your child! As you read run your finger over the words, sometimes stopping to spell it out. Point to the word apple, then point to the picture. As you are in the car point out the stop sign, the car, the dog and spell the word! Put a sturdy book shelf in the child's play area and let them PLAY with the books! Even if it means you daily have to pick them up, put them on the shelf your child has a hands on experience every day. Let them catch you reading and when they crawl up in your lap to see what you are doing make sure there is one of their books nearby for them to "read" too.
Every time I see posts about the "programs" that are out there to teach kids to read that moms "have to have" it gives me heartburn! Save your money, take your child to Barnes and Noble, Half Priced Books or Target and buy books for your child!
BTW, to show you how much impact it has...my 6 year old still has her first baby books on her shelf, she won't let me get rid of them. She remembers sitting on the floor and "reading" them. When she is a bit older and has lost interest (as most teens do) I will take her favorites and tuck them away for when she has children.

All kids are different...who cares if they can read at 1, 2, 3, 4...blah blah blah...i fully believe one of the biggest mistakes I made with my oldest daughter was expecting too much at a young age. but since having my newest baby...i see why all the "experienced" mom's said with my first...who cares, enjoy it while you can, because you blink and they are 10! Because i just blinked, and when i opened my eyes, she was 10. when they get older, it doesn't matter what they could and couldn't do when they were infants and babies. im not saying don't prepare them, but don't get so wrapped up in advancing them...in the end...it really won't matter. my daughter didn't read until she was 4..and really didn't catch on until she was 5..and now she is being tested for mensa in a month...so really..it doesn't matter. my brother was in all the gifted classes, he is simply brilliant..and now, i call him a "professional bum"..he has no drive to succeed, is an absent father, sponges off my sister, and 12 years my senior, I have worked more than him...so..(using common sense to my following statements) who cares if they watch some TV, use the computer, relax and do nothing in the sun...enjoy your baby and let him/her enjoy being a baby...there are much more enjoyable fun things to do with them, then teach them how to read at 2...go do a mommy and me swimming, yoga, volunteer, go for a walk, lay in the grass..don't expect them to read...read to them...they'll enjoy the time with you more...teaching them how to read young doesn't mean they are going to like it...you have to make it a part of your lives...my kids read on the way to school every day..30 minutes..and have done so since they learned how to...we have made reading a part of our daily lives...like showering..you just do it. so, don't get me wrong, I am a big believer in reading, and reaching for the stars, achievement, etc etc...but I have also learned, to savor the small stuff...i missed most of the small stuff with my now 10 year old because i was too focused on the next step...and I can't get those missed memories back...i can honestly say, at this moment in my life, it is my life’s biggest regret...

one last comment, have you seen the commercials for the you baby can read system...? It's main focus is the parent feeling pride...?? If the system was made to be most beneficial to the children, then why not focus on that? Just a thought...

i hope this helps... :) :) D. :)

Hi C.,

While I agree that you don't really need a program like this to teach a child to read, I thought I'd address the specific issues you mentioned.

It's my understanding, based on the literature my son's pediatrician gave us, that NO tv is recommended for kids under 2 because of some concerns about the brain over developing the quick focus refocus ability and under developing the ability to stay focussed on a single image or task.

That being said, I think it's probably fine for your kids to watch the video at 2 and 3 years old. I certainly wouldn't advocate sitting them in front of the tv for hours on end, but if you need to show them something (like while you shower or take an important phone call) these dvds are probably as good as any.

My 3 1/2 year old son, who CAN read (but learned on his own, before we came across these videos) has recently become interested in watching these on YouTube. They are slow paced and kind of boring to me, but he likes to read along with them and there are songs and stuff.

These videos (or any others) aren't a substitute for a text-rich environment, but as a tv watching choice, if your kids like them, I'd say they're fine but I don't see any reason they need to be the ONLY thing they watch.

Hope this helps,
T.

As an educator and psychologist, I can say that this product's demand that your baby only watch their dvd is a ploy for their marketing. All sources will be helpful, and as you so rightly point out, it is the parents' actions that count.

L.

I think that program is a total fraud - the baby will MEMORIZE the word on the flashcard but will not be able to interpret phonics etc. which is truly reading. I love your idea of using it as a fun tool/game and those flashcards will be handy when it comes time for spelling bees etc. in first grade. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the Disney Channel taught my son his shapes,counting, colors and how to sort items - he is almost 5 and still likes to watch it once in a while the other day they were counting to 100 on the show.
The best thing you can do for your kids is read to them and follow the words with your finger so they understand that those little black squiggles mean something!

I couldn't agree more with you that kids learn the most from their family! It isn't harmful to let your children view these DVD’s or any other "learning" shows as long as this isn't the only form of learning. Forcing or over encouraging a child to learn, learn, learn can lead to them disliking learning. I feel that learning is an ongoing natural process with every day interactions and play when children are young. Children learn while they are at play too!

There are many studies to support and against such types of systems. I have viewed many during my college years in early childhood development. Most of the studies found that these systems are just playing on worried parents trying to teach their children to be geniuses and viewed as a money making device for the makers. Although my boys both enjoy watching the leap frog 'letter factory' and word maker DVD’s. I feel these DVD’s were very instrumental in helping him to read at an early age. But, again I let him watch these when he wanted to!

I would suggest to use at your discretion and with what you feel is the best for your children. Remember to make any planned learning times fun and enjoyable without being forced.

Also remember that there is a big curve at which each child learns at their own rate. Good luck and have lots of fun!!!

Dear C.,
I think you're right that children learn best from their parents and surroundings.
I've seen the infomercials for Your Baby Can Read and I have to say now that you've been gifted with it....take it as it is. It's a learning tool. That's all it is. And, in my opinion, stating that it is more successful if your children have access to no other TV is just a way of them getting out of whether or not it's proven to be successful or not in the first place. Let's face it, some kids are visual learners and others are more hands on learners. I read and sang to both of my children from the time they were infants. I never baby talked. My kids were accustomed to having the TV on in the background. My father in law who had alzheimer's lived with us and he liked the TV on watching sports or old John Wayne movies. And, exercise infomercials ironically enough. Maybe he thought watching exercise was the same as doing it. Maybe it was the girls in the leotards. Who knows? But it didn't hurt my kids any. They didn't even pay attention 90% of the time. They did have their own educational videos and my son absolutely loved "Little Bear". That was our snuggy, slow down, rest time show. It had messages about friends and sharing and tooth aches and getting in trouble from time to time.
Kids learn from us by going on walks and finding mud and bugs. My son is 14 and still loves playing "Old May" with me. We started playing that when he was just a tiny thing and he thought that whoever got Old May was the winner because she was so cute. He knows full well now that it's really Old Maid but whenever the power goes out, we go camping or he's sick, he gets out his ancient pack of Old May cards. Just give your kids well rounded sources of information about this big world and they'll do just fine.

Best wishes.

You're absolutely right --- your kids do learn the most from you. Your kids will develop their vocabularies from listening to you, not from watching a DVD or the TV. Those "Your Baby Can Read" things ought to be illegal. Your kids, at 2 and 3, are busy learning the things that 2 and 3 year olds need to learn, and acquiring the developmental skills they need, from play and from interaction with you and other family members. You don't need to give "mini-preschool lessons," or harass them with flash cards. They will grow, and bloom, and acquire large vocabularies if you talk to them, and read to them, and take them places, and always encourage them to comment and respond. And let them see you reading for pleasure, as often as possible.

The only good thing you might get out of "Your Baby Can Read" is the advice to not let them watch TV. "Educational TV" is a joke. TV watching is a completely passive activity--- we sit back and let the pictures and voices on the screen float into our consciousness. We don't engage in what's being done, we don't analyze what's being said, and we don't prepare to respond--- we are passive. That's not learning. Kids need to be engaged, and actively analyzing and interacting, in order to learn. My advice is to toss the "Your Baby Can Read" into the trash, along with the flashcards, turn off the TV, and take the kids to the park!

Hi C....there was a post about this on July 31st called "Seeking other moms with experience with "Your Baby Can Read" educational system" by Tiffany. You might want to look it up because there was a lot of great advice.

I have to agree with Helen...to simply put what I responded to to Tiffany, the best way for kids to develop vocabulary is to be in a print rich environment and to be talked to. Children learn vocabulary best in context, not in isolation. They need to be able to connect the word to something for it to make sense and to retain the information. Read as much as possible and use books to develop vocabulary. I'm not saying that their isn't a place for DVD's/TV's...my kids definately watch their share of both and have learned from them as well. I actually think children learn more through actual story DVD's/TV shows verses "instructional" ones because they are learning about story elements (plot, sequencing, characters, beginning, middle and end, etc..) as well as vocabulary in context. The most important learning tools are books and talking with your children.