Here’s why: I think babies have more important stuff to learn. Exposing children to language and literacy in meaningful and relevant ways is what helps children become happy and effective readers; reading skills rarely come in a neatly-packaged box tied with a bow.
The biggest concern I have with these programs is that I think they capitalize on a parent’s desire to do the right thing. Parents want to raise smart babies, but most of what these programs promise can be provided for FREE. One of these programs costs as much as $200! A parent who provides a literacy-rich environment can probably achieve the same (or better) results without having to spend enormous amounts of money.
The first five years of a child’s life is a time of rapid brain growth, so parents and teachers are right to take advantage of this period of wonder and amazement. But, what is the advantage of a baby who can recognize the word "dog" but can’t point to a dog in a book, who has never seen a real dog? I’m just saying that it is about BALANCE and EXPERIENCES.
Really…what is the rush? Do we stand a four-month old up on his feet in an effort to make him "walk?" Because surely if he walks at 4 months old, he will be the best walker in his class by the time he gets to kindergarten! Why do we have to rush children? Why do the wonders of infancy have to be punctuated with flashcards and DVDs?
Here are things that parents and early childhood educators can do to promote early literacy skills in young children
* Talk to your child. Sounds simple but many parents don’t do it. Reading is nothing more than oral language written down so children need to have a solid sense of oral language. Talk about what is happening when you change her diaper. Describe all of the things you see on your walk. Talk. Talk. Talk.
* Read to your child. I know that this sounds like another no brainer. But it’s a crucial step in learning to read. Reading to your child often is just part of the process. Read with emotion. Point to some of the words in the book to help children make the connection between written and spoken words. Choose books with interesting pictures, rhythmic texts, and predictable plots.
* Sing…..sing a song. Music has been proven to have a positive effect on the ability to learn. Music exposes children to language, patterns, and rhythms all of which are related to reading! For early childhood song suggestions, visit Songs for Teaching.
* Visit the library or connect with friends to find new books. Look for books that are sturdy and durable (like board books) so that babies can touch, hold, and manipulate the books. Baby books can be expensive so visit the library or swap books with friends/neighbors!
* Recognize that children learn from repetition so even though you should look for new books often, never abandon the favorites because children will want to hear them over and over and over. Early strides towards reading start with some imitation and memorization so read those favorites often. Your baby will let you know what their favorites are!
* Point out words and letters in the environment when it is appropriate. If toddlers can recognize the McDonald’s logo then we know that they can recognize other letters. They learned the McDonald’s logo probably because they see it often or because the place has something that they enjoy. So use environmental print whenever the opportunity presents itself: the box of Cheerios on the breakfast table, the K on the K-Mart bag, headlines in the newspaper, etc… print is all around us and we don’t have to pay $200 for the fancy packaging!
* Provide your child with rich and varied experiences. I suspect that at least part of the reason why these type of programs work is because they require parents to spend a certain amount of time providing planned experiences with their child. So, why not do that anyway without the fancy kit? Take a walk, join a play group, go to the zoo, blow bubbles, paint a picture, make a tent, do a puppet show, find wonders in the world!!!! Remember things that are old news to us (a lemon, a butterfly, an empty box) are NEW to babies and toddlers!!!!
* Remember that children are rapidly growing in all areas of development. It is important to expose your child to activities that will promote the overall growth:
Social Development Do you really want a child who can read but doesn’t know how to take turns or say please?)
Physical Development: (Obesity is a huge problem among today’s children.
Learning to navigate the environment is important for infants and toddlers.
Problem Solving Skills (So, your toddler can read but can’t figure out how to put together a three-piece puzzle)
are important areas that parents and teachers must not ignore.
Do I think these teach your baby to read programs are harmful? I don’t know. The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t recommend TV for children under the age of two. Other studies link TV watching to disorders such as ADD and ADHD. I really don’t think that parents who purchase these type of programs are plopping their children in front of a TV just for the heck of it. I know that any parent who spends $200 on an infant reading program is doing so because they believe it will benefit their child. I don’t blame parents who want their children to be ahead of the curve. As parents, we all want our children to excel. I am confident that most of the money spent on these type of programs could be better spent doing things that really matter to your child… and I can guarantee that the things that matter most to your baby have nothing to do with flashcards and DVDs!
Reading is not a sprint! It’s a long-distance marathon.
Tonya Wright has been in the field of early childhood education for twenty years. A member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and Phi Kappa Phi, she has a strong belief that exposing children to language and literacy at an early age will enhance their ability to become better students in school.
Tonya Wright considers it her mission to expose parents and teachers to valuable early childhood activities in the hope of enriching the lives of all children.
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