Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

I think it is a gross assumption that each and every parent that does not approve of this program hasn't seen it/used it/tried it at least once.

That being said, I do not own it. I will not buy it. I will NEVER use it. I don't try products that do not appeal to me no matter WHAT they are. But maybe some parents here have.

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

Love MBCR.....It has proven to be a great foundation for learning for DS. I am also a teacher! (lots of us here! )

If you are not in favor of the program, and have not seen the materials, I encourage you to do so before you make a decision or judgement. The books are stimulating....all my nieces and nephews love them and look for them at my house. The photo cards are also engaging to LO's....(Tactile, hands on, bright and colorful ) The DVDs are only a very small part of the program. The whole program truly is a fantastic learning resource!

I do not think it is just memorization either... DS absolutely understands at 26 months that every letter makes a sound and when they are put together words are formed! Yes, my 26 month old is reading....and has been since 18 months. I do use a vareity of materials with him and it is not a skill and drill approach at all....It is learning through play. LOVE the program. And so does DS.

ETA: Everyone has their own opinions on what is in the best interest of their children...This post comes from a loving mother who is also a special ed/reading specialist.

Message edited 8/15/2010 10:53:14 PM.

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

I got it on Craig's List for $50 and it makes ds cranky, lol.

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

Yay!!!!

My DD has been using the program since she was 12 months. She's now 20 months and can "read" over 30 words.

But that's not why we use it.

This child used to become MESMERIZED when the commercials would come on. Even when she was just learning to walk, she's toddle in from another room whenever she heard the commercial. She started recognizing the words from the commercial. We decided to get the 30-day trial and give it a whirl.

She LOVES these videos and requests them every. single. day. We do not force her to watch them, we don't even prompt her and ask if she wants to watch. Every morning she claps and says "clap", and that means that she wants to watch her video. She gets all excited and will sit through the whole thing.

I know that we each do what we think is right for our kids, but I really resent people who tell me that I wasted my money, that I'm damaging my child by letting her watch (and learn), and the like. I am a teacher and a literacy specialist. I am aware that this is not how children ultimately learn to read. But I have no problem with her learning what words look like and how they sound at this point in her life.

And as for the whole "save your money and read to your kids" argument--we read to our DD religiously. But you know what? These videos capture her attention, teach her something, and allow me to empty the dishwasher in peace every day.

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

I've posted on these threads before that I wasn't going to buy it b/c after talking to teachers I thought that it taught reading by memorization which wasn't the "right" way to do it and therefore wasn't the best thing - that the kids should be learning by sounding out etc.

That said, I changed my mind and subsequently bought it (I hardly ever use it but that's another story). I changed my mind after talking to an actual reading teacher. She told me that yes, in isolation - you shouldn't teach your child to read this way BUT she uses many approaches to teach reading and whole word memorization (there is a word for this I just don't remember it) is one tool she uses in teaching reading - is it the only tool, no, but she said it is an important one. So, according to her, she thought it couldn't hurt - it could only help.

I also want to comment on alot of the posts that have characterized the whole idea of this as pushing children too far and having too high expectations and not letting kids be kids.

Before he was two my DS could recite the entire alphabet, recognize every single letter of the alphabet, most numbers, spell and recognize his name, etc. etc. At 2.5 he knew his phone number, address etc.etc. - why? did i sit there all day trying to drill these things into him NO WAY - I could care less if he knew them - it was b/c he was dying to learn these things - he would literally bring me the Dr. Suess alphabet book every single night and ask me repeatedly what the different letters were, he would listen when i ordered pizza and start to memorize the phone number etc. etc. So at 2.5 when he started telling me he wanted to learn how to read and made me tell him what every word was in his stories etc. and he saw the commercial and started memorizing the words on it LOL - i got the stuff. it doesn't just come with dvd's - it has flash cards and these sliding word card things. my ds wasn't crazy about the dvd's but was interested in the other stuff - and, so another poster said, i used them as tools - what should i have done? tell him no - you are too young to learn these things?

That said, he is now almost 3 and would now rather play with his trucks and cars all day then even look at something learning related sideways So all the my baby can read stuff just sits in the box and collects dust! I should have saved my money

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

Im a first grade teacher and it always amazes me when parents say "well he is reading" ...umm okay I test each child when they enter...the child is NOT reading. What they have learned is to memorize the books their parents have read to them since birth oly to PLEASE their parents.
Not a fan of YBCR and think it is a natural progression being able to learn to read and comprehension, JMHO

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

I honestly think you can get the same effect by using flashcards. It seems like roat (sp?) memorization to me (kinda like working on sight words) so I'm not convinced. There is more involved in literacy skills (phonological awareness for example). I wouldn't spend the money.

ETA: We borrowed the program and sat watched it ourselves.

Message edited 8/16/2010 8:14:21 AM.

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

My in-laws got this for DD last Christmas and we do use it, but we are not as strict as far as the schedule they tell you to follow.

DD likes the videos and we read the books and use the flash cards, but we don't use them everyday.

DD has a huge vocabulary, but we also read lots of other books to her.

I'm glad we got it as a gift, but I don't know if I would go out and spend the money on it myself.

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

I don't use it for my DD bc I don't really need her to read as a baby, but a friend of mine does it and her DS can talk circles around my DD. He is already speaking in sentences at not even 18 months old. Related? Maybe...

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

No I don't think she is saying that at all. What I DO think she is saying is that there is a LOT more to the reading process than looking at a word on paper/ a flashcard/a screen and repeating it. THAT is decoding. ENCODING is what lay people call spelling - another part of reading. Comprehension is yet ANOTHER part of reading that involves interpretation and application. Being able to apply acquired skills in isolation to other words and situations is a skill that is in no way even close to fully developed by kindergarten.

The phonological nuances of the English language, in particular, make it one of the most difficult languages to learn. I have had students who can read Hebrew better than English because the letters ALWAYS sound the same as do the vowels as opposed to English where you cannot apply universals to all consonants and vowels.

I have had students who can decode EVERYTHING but have no idea what they are saying. I have students who cannot decode a lick but know exactly what I am talking about and can make connections better than the former group.

The point is, if a combination of decoding, encoding and comprehension, at age appropriate levels, are not mastered simultaneously, IMO, it is a disservice to a child to consider them as fluent readers. That is my personal and professional opinion.

Bottom line - if you want the program, buy it and use it. If you don't, don't. But as I have said before, though it may do no harm, I simply don't see the advantage unless a parent plans on having their kids skip a grade and start the rest of their lives that much faster.

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

You could do this with your child at home w/o buying the program. I think it is better to just point out things as you are reading to your child. I like books that have some things labeled so the kids can see the word and a picture of it. But I really don't think its necessary for kids to know how to read before they are one. Reading a book them everynight will give them great literacy skills

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

I don't really have a strong opinion about it. I know some people have used it and told me it was fantastic and others not so much. That being said, someone lent me one of the DVDs and told me to try it. Well, DD was not interested one bit. I'm glad I didn't spend the money on it. I'll just keep reading to her like I do .

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

Posted by MrsA714

I don't really have a strong opinion about it. I know some people have used it and told me it was fantastic and others not so much. That being said, someone lent me one of the DVDs and told me to try it. Well, DD was not interested one bit. I'm glad I didn't spend the money on it. I'll just keep reading to her like I do .

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

My mother in law bought it for DD and honestly I can't get her to sit in front of the tv to watch it, she just doesn't really like tv all together so maybe it could work but it's not something I want to force on her so I waould say Nah.

Re: Yay or Nah: Your Baby Can Read

we have it, it was given to us. I have not bothered bc I really don't see the point. my 2 year old does not need to read just yet. I feel like ppl do it just to say, look what my kid can do !