'Your baby can read' DVD's

[misskate]

I'm just wondering if anyone has used the 'Your baby can read' video/dvd's? If you have any feedback on them, i'd appreciate the information.

TIA.

[AnyDream]

Beware of early reading systems as they often teach children to say words by sight with no real understanding of true sense or how they hang together in the sentence. The danger is that when they get to school they hit a speed bump and have to re-learn how to read from scratch (this is from an early-childhood teacher).

If you're interested in how to promote early reading, grad a copy of "The reading bug" by Paul Jennings and "Reading Magic" by Mem Fox. My DD1 was reading by the time she got to pre-school without any real 'teaching' other than enjoying lots of books together. It's as easy as that.

[misskate]

Thanks MD - I'll have a look at those suggested.

I'm still interested in hearing from those whom may have used these video's.

[paradise lost]

I haven't used them, but i've read the study on the Genius Institute which has been operating for over 40 years on children from 2months to 18 years to assist with accelerating their learning and encouraging genius.

In 40 years they have not produced a single genius.

Word-recognition isn't reading, and nothing on a dvd can improve your child's mind. Human interaction uncovers genuis, but genius itself seems to be inherent.

Bx

[misskate]

I'm not particularly trying to produce a genius as I believe that has more to do with genes. My partner and I aren't genius' as such either. I'm more interested in giving my son a head start. I was led to believe in the first 3 years of a childs life it was all about helping them make as many connections as possible. The more connections made, the more use they had of their brain. I see alot of parents use word recognition with their toddlers. We read to our son, sing to our son, count etc. even though he is only 11 months, but i'm interested in learning more to stimulate him.

Hence I was after people who had actually used 'Your baby can read' for feedback whether their children responded to it or not. I have a friend who heard from another friend that when they went through the songs head, shoulders, knees and toes - their baby would respond and they would touch the body part that corresponded with the word which appeared on the screen. Word recognition or whatever, i'm my mind it seems like they are making 'connections' and using their brain. I doubt people who have used this product would reply now because they may feel intimidated by pp answers.

Thanks anyway.

[visitor1]

Kate ive not seen or heard of these DVD's but i will say that Chelsea has watched The Wiggles from an early age and responds to actions she seems now...i think any show kids make aconnection with, help in the long run. I ahve the Baby Einstein ones and both girls watch them alot

Perhaps give them a go...If Lachlan responds thens thats great!

[paradise lost]

I'm not trying to intimidate, there have been several studies which indicate NOTHING positive happens to a child's brain when exposed to screen time before the age of 3. In one study conducted on baby einstein dvd's for every hour/week a child watched the vocabulary-expanding DVD they had 20 LESS words than their non-dvd-watching peers. Screen-time is detrimental to a child's social and emotional development and in most cases seems to also hinder intellectual growth. The human brain has evolved over more than 100million years of human interaction, it isn't designed to learn from a flat unresponsive screen. A screen DOESN'T help form useful connections - there is no interaction with a TV, because a TV is a dead device. YOU can teach Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes WAY better than a DVD, and while you are doing so he will be learning 50 other things about human expression, voice pitch, social interaction and deepening his appreciation and trust and enjoyment and love of you. YOU are better than any educational tool, aid or facility your son will encounter in his entire life. In terms of volume of information a baby learns more from the early games with it's parents than even a PhD grad will have learned at Uni.

You asked about it, i am not sharing my opinion for the sake of annoying you or anyone else, i'm sharing my findings because the current research indicates that a schedule of DVD-learning will give your child the very opposite of a head-start. Every parent must make their decisions based on their own findings, and i had assumed that you asked because you wanted to know. You might conduct the same searches, find the same studies and decide to go ahead and get the DVD's anyway - that's your decision, and it doesn't affect me in the least. I figured you'd like to at least KNOW about those findings though, and their condensed message is that there's nothing a screen can teach your child that you couldn't do a far superior job of teaching him.

Bx

[Lulu]

Maybe they might find the above information more valuable? Flash cards were waaaay big in the 70's and I don't think they did much for a head start either.

My daughter read early, it looks like my son is picking up many words already just because I read to them all the time.

I dunno why you would get so narky about some really useful information. They don't work, end of story. Save yourself the $$$ and give your baby the 'live' version of head shoulders, knees and toes. There's your head start!

[boomba]

I have never used them and dont think i will but i understand you are only thinking of Lachies well being. I think the girls are just telling you this so you dont waste any money, they are just trying to help!
By doing what your doing now , reading singing etc will give Lachie a better start than plonking him in front of the tv! Social interaction is far better than tv! Your doing a great job just being with him!
I really beleive these type of things were created to make money off parents, as we all want our child to succeed!

I know you are probably asking as you want give Lachie the best start, but in all honesty you really dont need them! Maybe someone who has used them will pop in and tell you there experience! x

[misskate]

Maybe someone who has used them will pop in and tell you there experience! x

That's what I was more hoping for Amber.

We sing songs like heads, shoulders etc. and if your happy and you know it etc. with all the actions and he does the clapping ones - but I was more interested in him associating the word with the action... Nevermind, dead topic - I was just curious and asking if people had used them as I was interested in what they had to say. I'm not referring to einstein vidoes or wiggles or playschool etc. I was purely interested in the 'your baby can read' series.

Hoobley thanks for your concern and wealth of knowledge, I have heard of that study before because you have mentioned it in another thread some time ago. But like I said above, I just wanted to hear experinces from famillies that have actually used this set.

They don't work, end of story.

Lulu - you think I was narky?? LMFAO! It could certainly get that way, so I won't bother with this thread anymore. But why post if your going to be rude - other parents searching this topic don't want to read your useless rude post.

[Pretty Butterfly]

I doubt people who have used this product would reply now because they may feel intimidated by pp answers.

Thanks anyway.

Sounds a little narky to me...

Calling someone else post "rude and useless" is extremly rude in itself.

People came in and gave you HONEST opinions, and even factual studies. Being so rude and nasty because you didn't like the answers isn't very nice...

I was going to post on my experience with this as a Child Care Worker, but I dont see the point if your only after what you WANT to hear, not the truth.

What a shame.

[Lulu]

Yes, its obvious that reiterating facts and pointing out you are doing plenty of things to get your child a head start could be seen as rude.....yawn

[Indadhanu]

misskate, maybe you could read "The Science of Parenting", its basically all about making those connections to enable children grow into emotionally successful adults.

[Lucy]

Evidently some misunderstandings in this thread thus far. Can we please keep it civil and on topic, ladies? I am sure you all appreciate where I am coming from. Thanks..........

[MantaRay]

Misskate, my first DS is 3 1/2 and is reading quite a lot of words. He could read every letter of the alphabet and a few words by the time DS2 was born (DS1 was 19 months). We never watched TV or videos (he had zero interest and would never sit still in front of TV) and we didn't try to teach him to read. He just loved books from day one. So we spent lots of time reading to him, and after a while he had asked "what's that" for all the pictures and started on the letters. He did the same with signs when we were out, or on food packets etc. From there he learnt them all.

I think the best way to give a child a good head start is one on one time with them. Read with them every day. Take them for a walk and show them all the things nature has. Spend time playing cars and trucks with them. No DVD or TV show can even come close to matching that. That's my opinion and my experience.

[MantaRay]

You don't have to answer this hun, but I was also wondering why you think reading early would give your little one a head start? I have to say that I am very concerned by the fact that my DS is already reading. By the time he gets to grade 1 (when they first start to learn reading) in two years, he is going to be so bored having to start from the beginning again. I actually see his early reading as a problem, not an advantage. So I am always interested in other people's views on it.

[BhoysGirl]

MR - I wouldn't necessarily see it as a disadvantage. You've obviously spent some really valuable & lovely time with your DS and helped him to develop one of life's most useful skills. Sure, when he's in grade 1 he's going to be ahead of other kids, although not necessarily all of them, chances are that others will be reading too. So what you've maybe created is a kid that will be able to help other kids with their reading, and one who will have a great deal of confidence in at least one area of schooling, which I think can only be an asset. Also, given all the fabulous time you've spent with him so far I can't imagine that you're going to just stop doing this when he goes to school - you'll still be providing him with stimulation & learning opportunities in your family environment, just as you've done so far, which will go a long way to keeping him from getting bored.

[Pretty Butterfly]

By the time he gets to grade 1 (when they first start to learn reading) in two years, he is going to be so bored having to start from the beginning again. I actually see his early reading as a problem, not an advantage. So I am always interested in other people's views on it.

Depends what sort of school he goes to hon...

At my kids school, reading is done on ability, not grade. Each child is assessed, and the readers are given out accordingly. As they finish a level, the next level is sent home. It isn't uncommon to find kids in one class ranging from 5-15 in readers...
Homework is also done the same way.
But I'm not sure how common that is. My kids are at a smallish (20 per class) catholic school...