Teach Baby to Read

[pinkpie]

Sino na nakagamit sa inyo ng Little Reader Deluxe ng Brillkids.com?

Meron Pa ba kayong ibanag alam na material to tech baby to read?

[Loveholic]

Hi! I tried "Your Baby Can Read" program for my daughter when she was just around 1yr old. Along that i would also let her watch "Baby Signing Time". Those two programs combined worked well for her since she was able to communicate with us at such an early age. That was my target...also it served as a handy "babysitter" for someone like who didnt have a yaya that time. I believe any child can read so long as you expose them with books during the early years. She was reading sentences by 2 (I read to her on a daily basis which was another factor) but she can only read words she knows or have memorized. Everytime i teach her to read by phonics..she is just too lazy to do so. So i guess having this experience made me feel that "sight" reading is good but not as good enough as teaching your child how to read words not from memory. So i guess it all boils down to one thing... Reading to your child everyday is enough to expose her to new words. Learning the basic is much important.So if the program you were interested in would teach basic phonics..then that would be good.

[Teacher_Cheryl]

I really don't believe in teaching babies or toddlers reading yet.

Is it possible to teach babies how to read, yes.  But the question we should is, why teach them reading at such an early age?

It is just not Developmentally Appropriate.  It's not as if the kids will suddenly pick up a newspaper or book and start to read.  So why bother?  Do you think by teaching them early, you're giving them a headstart - absolutely no!

What babies and toddlers need at this age activities connected to socialization and jump-starting their imagination.

I have seen any study or research that stated reading early in childhood will equate to better intelligence.  If you want to really help your child get a good start, buy board books and read with them.  consider also enrolling them in Kindermusik, Gymboree or other Toddler playgroups.

[Loveholic]

Hi sis, sorry but I dont agree that it is not developmentally appropriate. Times have changed and it is surprising what kids can now do these days. During the early years, we all know that their minds work like a sponge. Why not take advantage of it? I understand that kids need to fully understand a concept before giving him the big picture. Do we always have to stick to their "age appropriate" learning level? Do we always have to stick to what our education founders and theorists present to us?  It does give kids a head start based on research published in educational journals these days. Although some research have to take in factors such as parental involvement's relation to a child's success, teaching them to read at an early age is still one of the contributing factors. Fostering a genuine love for reading using such programs is not a bad idea either. Whatever helps so long as its fun and not forced. I do agree that having babies read at such an early age seem rushed, but what if they like watching such programs? When my daughter turned 3, she prefer buying books than toys. She would ask me to read her books and would even ask me to repeat words she is not familiar with. She likes it when i use my finger to point at the words im reading. She likes it most when she can read the words by herself and she feels so proud. I regret having her watch YBCR program as it didnt teach her the basic way of reading. But i am glad that it gave her the confidence and understand that each letters makes a word, and every word holds a meaning. She is very resilient in knowing and understanding the words and the story in her books.

[pinkpotato]

^ agree with you.

i know few friends who have children (all boys, not sure if there is something special with the gender) who read at the age of 2, sentences reading that is thru your baby can read. interestingly my friends, their moms, are not the type na career talaga in teaching their children, they just buy it, let the kids watch and then that's it. walang review review, walang check check and then they say all of a sudden nakakabasa na nga ang bata. so i think it also comes with the child, when he is gifted, lumalabas talaga yan, child prodigy ika nga.

pinkpie, how old is your child? and if i may ask, why do you want her/him to read at an early stage?

loveholic, did the baby can read help your baby read? at what age?

[Loveholic]

For me, i think the "baby signing time" program helped us more than the YBCR. Before she turned one, she was able to communicate with us through "signing" which minimized her frustrations since she can express her wants and needs. (that was my target) After my daughter watched YBCR in just a few times, she was able to recognize the patterns of the letters and say the words out loud after she turned 1. You could say that it's like "sight reading" or simply memorizing for some people. She loved the program so I never saw the need to stop and was even forced to buy the added dvds not included in the package. Before i knew it, she was reading sentences (probably because she got used to seeing commonly used words like: the, is, are, they, she etc whenever i read to her. I used my finger to trace the words im reading and by doing so, she was like reading along) When she turned 2, i taught her phonics (how you sound the letter) however she is not able to combine the sounds together. A child needs to atleast be at an appropriate age to do this, probably 3.5 to 4 yrs old (except if the child is perhaps a prodigy..haha) technically, she knows what a-z sound like, but putting them together is not something she can do (yet). I was simply trying or "testing" if my child is gifted..haha. A higher level thinking is needed for her to do such task. So for me to say if it worked, other factors probably contributed to that. I can only confidently say that she enjoyed books rather than fear it. She got used to it at such an early age so seeing letters and words are not alien to her anymore. I've seen kids who dread and cringe at the sight of a textbook. So exposing kids to such program is a-ok..they're fun anyways. I dont think any child should only start reading only after she turned 5. A child will be interested in anything she is exposed to. Right now, i am exposing her to toys and kept bringing her to a toy store. (i am a toy addict..haha) but i guess she would still prefer being in a book store. Thats how it is for us now. It all boils down to one thing, parental involvement is still the main key for any child's academic success. It is about quality time rather than quantity time. So for me, the best and cheapest reading program available is at home. Just constantly read books... Ask questions about the story to gauge their understanding (like: what do you think will happen next?) constantly explain how things work in the best and simplest way (based from the story). The key is not for them to learn how to read at an early age, but for them to be interested in books. If you can help your child develop a Genuine love for reading, everything else follows.

[pinkcoyote]

^I agree that when a child loves to read, everything else will follow. Yan din ang palaging sinasabi sa akin ng directress ng anak ko.

Ako I didn't teach my kid to read when she was still a baby, I attempted pero mahina ang pasensya ko magturo kaya wala ding nangyari haha! But..I expose her to books, I surrounded her with books! I read to her every night, kahit tulog na sya, I still finish the book when we're in the mall, we go to the bookstore most of the time just to browse some books. She loves books kahit hindi pa sya marunong magbasa! And i think it also helped that she always sees me reading --- magazines, newspaper, novels, etc.. Alam nyo naman toddler age, gaya-gaya stage yan diba.. What I'm saying is, don't be too pressured to teach baby to read; there's also nothing wrong in using programs such as mentioned above, what's important is, as early as possible (kahit sa tummy pa si baby), expose them na to the joy of reading books.

[sassy_taurus8]

Mga sis, sa mga naka try na ng "Your Baby Can Read" and  "Baby Signing Time", alin ang mas ok or mas effective? I have a 15 month old toddler and he loves books. As in may initiative na and eagerness to learn kase sya pa mismo nagdadala nung mga books sakin for us to read. So I am just thinking reading programs like the mentioned would also enhance his reading skills. Tia.

[babythug28]

do you think yung mga programs that you mentioned can still help me with my 4 yr old kid (turning 5 next month). mag kindergarten na sya sa pasukan pero she can't read yet. she knows the letters, phonics, mga ganun. medyo na-late kasi [textspeak!] development nya even before dahil premie (8 months pinanganak). my doctor said na normal lang daw for her na medyo ma-late yung development compared sa ibang mga bata pero gusto ko sana mas makalevel up naman sya although madami pa din sa mga classmates nya yung hindi pa marunong magbasa.

i'm trying my best to read to her, hindi ko alam kung natututo sa kin pero madalas naman na gusto nya akong magbasa kahit yung mga nakalagay lang na title sa TV.

[tashasabs]

@babythug28: That can help sis pero kung more on simulation kasi yun baka masyado na siyang advanced para dun. Ako rin yung eldest namin (boy, turning 5 sa October) will go to school na sa June and hindi pa siya ganun ka-familiar sa alphabet. What I'm doing now since housewife na ulit ako is bumili ako nung mga simple na activity books, yung may trace the letter, showing the alphabet, ganun. Basic lang. Tinuturuan ko siya 30mins-1hr lang every day (isang session lang) para kahit papaano maging familiar, hindi ko naman pinipilit na makabisado niya bago mag-June. He's also into "reading" books (just really looking at pictures) kasi I surround them with books at nakikita rin nila ako na palaging nagbabasa.

Just remember never to force and pressure your child. Ako din minsan biglang magpa-panic, parang gusto ko hindi kami titigil hanggang di niya nakakabisado/naiintindihan yung tinuturo ko. Pero in the long run, ayoko naman na aayawan niya na mag-aral kasi nga ang naiisip niya puro pressure lang naman. 

[lilsaintsm0m]

My son tried out kumon when he was 3. He memorized everything, it was more of sight reading. Months later upon entering nursery level he learned phonetics they studied letters of the week. They started with vowels first then consonants. He was able to read nung nasa letter E palang sila. Nagulat nalang ako na he was reading billboard advertisements. He likes going to national bookstore rather than toy kingdom or toysrus I posted this video on another topic here, this was taught in their school http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW7N64zsrs0. Pretty catchy song

[babythug28]

@tashasabs

thanks sis..[textspeak!] ganun na nga lang din gagawin ko, onting minutes lang para hindi mangarag naman yung bata. sis, i found a site where you can download one free workbook (print mo na lang) pag nagpamember ka. yung ibang free na download (printable din) per page lang. check mo yung education.com. magmember ka lang for free tapos meron ng activities na pwede sa kids natin

@lilsaintsm0m
salamat sis sa link

[tashasabs]

@babythug28 Thanks sis. I'll try that one. Medyo nagiging mahal na nga rin kasi ang activity books. 

[babythug28]

^uu sis..last i checked nasa 100 na yung ilang pages lang. magaganda [textspeak!] mga andyan, nagdownload na ko ng ilang pages. i'll start teaching na din talaga yung eldest ko pero without the pressure nga

[tiggerlily]

i think what's important is to follow your child's lead. they should never to hurried into academics unless they really wanted to. iba-iba naman ng development ang mga kids. may nauuna magsalita kaysa maglakad. just remember lang na kapag may naunang madevelop, may isang mahuhuli. i have known kids who knew how to read at a very early age pero ang development ng motor skills nila nahuhuli. there has been studies of this already. you can refer to the article below by david elkind:
http://www.besthomeschooling.org/articles/david_elkind.html

[Loveholic]

@babythug28

I wouldn't really recommend YBCR for your 5yrold son since he's already at that stage where he can understand the concept of combining phonic sounds (if taught). Sight reading is good but like what i mentioned before, learning the basics is better. I suggest you can start letting him watch Leapfrog Letters Factory. This is a cartoon where charaters of the story went to "letter factory" and learned that each letter has its own sound. After your son masters what those sounds are from a-z, you can try teaching him the concept of putting the sounds together for 2-letter words (like: it, of, so, at, in, on) before proceeding to 3-letter CVC words (consonant-vowel-consonant) like CVC a: cat, bat, hat. CVC e: bet, let, set and so on...

I know it can be frustrating to see other kids perform well and it is very natural that we parents tend to compare them with our own. Each child has his/her own learning style.. Sme are good with visuals, some learn best through auditory or tactlie/kinesthetics. Children have their own "expertise" or intelligence that may not be particularly academic. So mommies, don't be pressured.. I believe there are plenty of summer programs specializing in reading that could help.. Again, make reading as enjoyable as possible... No forcing.

I can also suggest "Ready-to-read" books. Level 1 for non-readers and early readers. They have books with famous cartoon characters available which can encourage young children to read, look through, or simply browse the pictures. Children will hae their favorites..so if you continue reading the same book (i suggest pointing the words using a finger as you read on), they will catch up and say the words ahead right before you do.

[babythug28]

thanks tigerlily. i was able to read the link this morning lang

and thanks too loveholic. [textspeak!], will try your advise. right now i have a couple of sight words posted sa wall and some activities for her to do pag nasa mood sha. i'll check after a couple of weeks kung interested pa din sha sa mga ginagawa namin. if not, i'll look for more options para kahit pano medyo makapag basa basa na sha ng onti

[Teacher_Cheryl]

Just want to update everyone that the Your Baby Can Read Corporation has been slapped with a Class-Action Lawsuit for fraud. 

http://www.care2.com/causes/baby-can-read-does-not-in-fact-teach-baby-to-read.html

The class action lawsuit alleges that the Your Baby Can Read corporation used false advertising and bogus claims to market its product, promising parents that they could teach children as young as three months to read! But child psychology experts at Harvard and other leading universities proved that the system is fake.

The truth is, your baby can’t read, and the company is currently being investigated by the FTC. “It raises false expectations,” said Dr. Karen Hopkins, a developmental pediatrician at New York University’s Langone Medical Center, who also called Your Baby Can Read “misleading” and “false.”

At the end of the day, the babies or toddlers are really not reading - they're just memorizing the word form. Letters, words and reading are way to abstract for babies and toddlers.  We need to help them learn and recognize the world through concrete concepts like animals, transportation and community.

Scandinavian countries have the highest literacy-rates.  What age do they each their children to read?
7 years old.  When it is developmentally appropriate, learning is easy, enjoyable and defintely more effective.

[sweet31]

sis saan po makabili ng dvd ng YBCR. I am interested for my 3 year old daughter. Mama ko lang kasi nag alaga kaya puro teleserye lang ang napanood.

[kirohanz29]

sisses,
where can i buy cheap dvd's / activity books for my tod?
i have soon to be 8mon tod and was wondering [textspeak!]
activities/works to introduce to her.
i can say that she likes reading kc she always stares at printed shirts and look at it like she's reading,
but dont want to force her doing rough activities at her age,

thanks in adv!