The Your Baby Can Read Early Learning System

Jul 1
08:24

2011

Andrew Stratton

Andrew Stratton

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

Curious about the Your Baby Can Read early learning system? Learn what it entails and a little more about how it works.

mediaimage
If you have spent much time at all watching children’s programs on the TV,The Your Baby Can Read Early Learning System Articles or late night TV infomercials for that matter, you have probably seen an advertisement for the Your Baby Can Read early literacy program. This program claims to be able to teach infants and toddlers literacy at a high level – not just recognizing basic words, but actually reading chapter books by preschool. If you are like the average parent, you have probably been a bit skeptical when looking at these commercials. Understanding a bit more about how the program works may help ease some of your concerns.

The Your Baby Can Read program does not use phonics to teach reading, but rather uses word recognition. Babies are taught to associate the sight of the word with an image or action that shows the meaning.

This is similar to the way they learn spoken language. When a mother is teaching her child to say “milk,” she will say “do you want some milk?” and then show the child the bottle or cup. Soon the child understands that “milk” means the white drink that he loves. Even before he can say the word, he has made the association. If the mother says, “milk?” he can point to the milk if he wants some, or shake his head “no” if he does not.

With the early literacy program, children start by viewing short DVD programs that show written words followed by video or images of the word. Children are encouraged to speak and move in addition to seeing and hearing the media, so it incorporates most of their senses. The program also includes books and flashcards that parents can use with their babies to underscore and review what is being taught.

The creators of the Your Baby Can Read program recommend having parents co-view the DVDs with their children. This is not babysitting time. It is instructional time. If you sit with your kids and encourage them to interact with the program, you will find that it is reinforced even more.

Because the program works at the child’s own pace and does not put any pressure on the child, it can be highly effective. Parents need to read through all of the instructional material to ensure that they are using the DVDs appropriately. Above all, do not try to force a youngster to learn with these DVDs. When the time is right, the child will learn with the right encouragement.

So, will the Your Baby Can Read program turn your baby into a genius? Probably not, although to some he may appear that way when he is reading books before his third birthday. However, research has proven that children who develop early literacy skills do better in school when traditional reading instruction begins. That in and of itself is a bonus for any parent who is concerned with their child’s education. Also, children who are reading are rarely bored. So, by opening the door to literacy at a young age for your child, you are giving him two excellent gifts.