Saturday, 25 July 2009
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Would You Want Your Baby to Learn How to Read?
Would you purchase programs such as Baby Einstein or others to teach your baby how to read or is waiting until he/she is in school okay?
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Comments (44)
I have some weird gut feeling that those are a bad idea so I probably wouldn't buy it on my own. But since I have no real back ups saying that it harms the baby I would have no problem accepting the program as a gift.
I had always heard that the younger you teach kids the smarter they'll be. After reading about a Korean woman who read everything out loud while she was doing her college work so her baby could hear her voice in the womb, and the child was a genius prodigy as a kid, I did my own experiment, although not at that level.
I read to my son from the time he was born. I bought the foam letters and numbers and taught them to him while he played with them in the bathtub. He knew his letters and numbers and how to spell three letter words by the time he was two. When he was three, he wanted to learn how to read by himself so I bought the book, How To Teach Your Child to Read In 100 Easy Lessons. We didn't even get halfway through the lessons when he was reading his little books by himself. When it was time for Kindergarten, he was way ahead of the other kids and was so bored with school that we started homeschooling from first grade on.
I think that if more parents took the time to actually teach their kids when they're babies instead of just talking baby talk to them, that they will soak it up like a sponge and have a stronger desire to learn. That's the time when it was the most fun and I don't regret it one bit. Of course there may be some cases in which the child or parent couldn't do this so I guess it depends on the situation. But I always say, you never know until you try; and if you're willing to try, you'll often find that you (as well as others) are capable of acomplishing way more than you think you can. A kid doesn't have to stop being a kid just because he's smart or wants to learn.
I don't want kids. but if I ever change my mind about that...
My baby would be read to- every night. It would also be taught letters and numbers and colors as a toddler. Plus, my baby would be taught a foreign language. And when it was like four...piano lessons. lol.
I would also make it play outside and watch only maybe 30 minutes- 1 hour of television a day. AND it would not be chubby. Overweight children are not cute. They are unhealthy.
<3
@homemadehappiness@xanga - GOOD FOR YOU! You sound just like my mom, and I read at 2!
Things such as Baby Einstein have been shown to decrease social aptitude, so that would be out of the question for when I have a kid.
My plan is to do what my parents did: Read anything they could get their hands on. I was exposed to literature and writing right from birth, and the impact has been lifelong.
well i love reading, so when i have children, i want to instill that into them as soon as possible. so yes. i will be teaching the to read, (in english and spanish)
I'd want my kid to read, but I wouldn't invest in those special capitalist products.
I don't think kids need any programs to learn how to read. They are like sponges so they'll catch on if you read to them daily and they see you reading.
I don't think those programs actually work as well as they're supposed to. I read to my kids every night.... but they're only 2 and 3.... I don't expect them to be reading quite yet. Hell, kids aren't even required to be fully reading until they're going into 4th grade in FL.... so I am not really worried about them reading before they enter kindergarten.
I don't think buying a program is necessary to teach your baby to read. My son enjoys playing with homemade flashcards. He's almost two and we're working on learning the alphabet and some sight words. We read together a lot and he absorbs everything during the time we spend together!
I think its okay to teach your baby things like reading etc, but I don't see the T.V. as an acceptable teacher.
i read a study that said those baby einstein programs actually stress out a baby's brain instead of helping them--so i wouldn't go for it. i would, however, read to them in the hopes that they would maybe pick some of it up or it would foster a fondness for reading and books.
@homemadehappiness@xanga - My mom did that, too. I could read when I was 3. I don't think the whole prodigy thing worked for me though, haha.
I don't have any issues with teaching your kids to read before school. I think it gives them a nice heard start. I know it helped me a lot being able to read when I started school. I wouldn't use Baby Einstein though. I'm not a big fan on really small children watching television in general.
@Traci_Ladd@xanga - Ahhhh flash cards. I love it :) I actually remember being really small and learning how to count and learning my alphabet with those floating flash cards and sponge letters and numbers in the bath tub. (I'm sure my mom had regular flash cards, too.)
That is so sweet :)
Before he/she starts school, I'm going to teach him/her the basics. Long way until i have a baby though, lol.
If I have children, I'm definitely going to teach them to read before they enter preschool. I would rely on actual books instead of a television program, though, to foster a love for seeing the written word on page.
I was reading before I even hit preschool--by kindergarten I read at a college level. My mom read to me constantly and I loved it; I've always loved words and finding the perfect words to describe what I'm trying to say (yeah, lame). It's definitely possible, but I don't necessarily think every child has the capacity to do this. Kids should be familiar with letters and numbers and words before school, but some kids just aren't ready to read until much later. Those who read at 2 and 3 years old are extremely exceptional.
My daughter is now 4 months old and I've already started reading to her. I hope she shows an interest in words and wants to read early, but I won't force it on her. The most I can do is keep reading to her and teach her the basics so she's ready to read. If she shows an interest in words and in actually reading herself, not just hearing me read, then I can start teaching her more.
I started reading and singing to my son when I was about 28 weeks pregnant. He's seven weeks old and I read, sing and sign to him all day. I don't know if I'll use formal materials to teach him to read or write, probably just little lessons throughout the day, like we do now. :)
not only i was reading before school, but i already knew how to multiply & divide. of course my dad taught me. i didn't learn by a program. i think it's beneficial to learn at an earlier age. seriously...why wait?
I would read to my child while I was pregnant, but I would have to disagree with the whole teaching em before school. Yes, I know that it would help them intellectually, but I'd rather my children have fun childhoolds, not all about learning.
Which I don't have children yet, so whatever. lol
You don't need a "program." Read to your baby beginning now, at whatever age. Read to your ungorn/infant/rugrat/toddler. Follow the text with your finger. In the earliest stages that is just to make it habitual for you to do. As the child develops- and you do not know at what point it begins- the child will pay attention to what your are reading, only momentarily at first, but increasingly. He will try to figure out how your voice relates to the text. At some point he will be connecting the printed words that your finger is indicating directly with the words he hears you speak.He will learn to read naturally, early, and without forcing. In part he will be trying to emulate you and may read aloud with you. Do it in church with the hymnal and with bible readings. For many that will especially interest the child. And your child will probably develop an abiding interest in books.
I'd rather read with them. As a parent it'd be MY job and responsibility to get that started and intact, not a teacher's, television's or casette tape's job.
My mom didn't teach me how to read before I was in school, but she read the newspaper out loud to me when I was a baby - baby talk was forbidden. I'm no genius by any stretch, but I pride myself in a good vocabulary and academic strength. I think I would do something similar with my own children, not necessarily teach them to read entirely.
@skylar_rose@xanga - oooh, very interesting! Do you have any links to share on this study? I'd appreciate it :)
@Nina1981@xanga - http://www.washington.edu/alumni/uwnewslinks/200709/videos.html
and
http://www.whitedot.org/issue/iss_story.asp?slug=ADHD%20Toddlers
The first one is actually about how linguistic ability is hindered by Baby Einstein. The second is more general, but it discusses the use of TV "educational" shows and the subsequent detriment to development.
In my opinion (regardless of the above links), nothing can replace reading to a child.
Cheers!