March 1, 2010
So, yesterday I was walking around Walmart looking for who else, my boys. Never seems to fail I always lose them. As usual my 8 year old has to visit every bathroom known to man. Many times we know he doesn't have to go, but he has a huge melt down. Honestly how do we know he really doesn't have to go? Unfortunately he's learned that line. Anyhow, I'm way off subject here. I went to the toys hoping I'd find them there. While there I came across the "Your baby can read" videos or are they books, I really don't know. I took a quick look at the box and thought to myself what a waste of money. I can only imagine how many first time parents have bought into this. In all honestly had I been a first time mother I may have thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. Since I've been around the block more than once I can see what my baby really needs to what will just end up in my way to eventually be buried in the bottom of the toy box and then being sold at the next yard sale for 75% less than I paid for it. I have to wonder why parents these days are so quick to have their kids reading? Maybe I'm old fashioned, but what is wrong with babies and toddlers learning on their own level and pace?
Take Christian for example. He is a fantastic reader reading at about a 4th-5th grade level, according to tests his school has preformed on him. He didn't start reading until the summer before Kindergarten. When he started actual taught reading he did very well. And it's not because anyone forced him to learn. The thing is I wasn't actually teaching him what the letters on the page spelled or meant. I started reading to him at a very young age. Young meaning weeks old. He liked being talked to, so when I was reading a magazine or the "parenting book" I was reading it out loud for him to hear. It soothed him even though he didn't understand a word I was saying. As he got older we bought him books of his own and by the time he was a year old he was speaking in sentences and could tell us what he wanted. At a little over a year he would be able to pick out his favorite book and bring it to someone to read to him. He to this day still does that. It's kind of amazing that something like that has stuck with him over the years. He wouldn't be able to remember doing something like that being he was so young. He still would like to curl in my lap and suck his thumb while I read him a story, and eventually falling asleep.
I'm not saying that the Your baby can read system is a waste of money for everyone. Because I really can't review something I haven't ever tried. Chances are we won't be trying it because I believe Nicholas will learn to read when he is ready. I believe that kids should be kids and they will go to school for the next 18+ years why not enjoy them while you can? This blog has prompt me to do a little research on the system to see if it actually works. I read to Nicholas just like I did with Christian. The cool thing is Christian reads to Nicholas more than I do. Not only are they both learning, but Christian is doing his nightly reading for school.
