Don’t waste time trying to explain. No one will be convinced.
I taught my older boy to read only when he’s about 1 year old (didn’t know of early reading back then). We spend nights reading about 4 books for a start and it went on for about 3-4 months. I wasn’t too convinced that he was able to understand a single word that I read about but I just continued. He would sit on my lap and patiently waited for me to read to him.
One fine morning, I opened my eyes and was just laying in bed. What caught my eye was my boy was actually sitting very still and was flipping the pages of the story books that I’ve read with him. He was flipping page-by-page and running down each word though he wasn’t making any noise as he couldn’t really speak then. I was like :ph34r:
And I never looked back, we quickly increased the amount of books to 8, then 12 and 16 every night. He could already pronounce words like 18 months.
I usually tell my hubby that I’m doing my ‘training’ secretly and the results will show when they attend school. Hehe.
Haha that’s how I feel most of the time! I think to myself, “Sure everyone thinks I’m crazy now but just wait till he gets older. No one will be criticizing us then!” lol
I totally understand how all other moms feel! I live with my in-laws and my mother-in-law always criticized what I did, especially when I showed my baby (at that time she was only 8 month) flash cards! She said “how come you just make her learn at this young age???” I did not try to explain as she just didn’t understand and won’t understand anyways!!
I have gone through this experience many times, but u know, they realised their mistake, and rather started encouraging their kids at early stage.
Just call them and make your child sit in front of Brillkids, and the movement your kid will start tell every thing he learnt in billkids, i they will appeciate your efforts.
Hi,
I tend not to tell others about the learning activities that I do with my son during the day. I wish this was not the case as it would be nice to share experiences, but people can really be very judgemental. Ethan is my first child (5 months old) and I have learned very quickly that absolutely everyone has an opinion about how you should be raising your child. It has gotten to the stage where I now find myself hiding the math dot cards if we are going to have visitors!
My mother in law did happen to see the cards one day and asked me about them so I told her a bit about the program. She did not tell me I was doing anything wrong, but she did look at me like I was crazy and said that I should be careful as some parents can take educating their child too far. My family has also said that I am being mean for not letting Ethan watch television like “The Wiggles” as he will missing out. I really don’t think that young babies get together and discuss what they saw on TV the day before. I have also had family members say that if Ethan is too intelligent by the time he attends school he may become an outcast. I find this kind of comment disturbing. Do they mean that we should make sure our kids are dumber just so they can make friends at school? If you teach your child to have good values, not brag about their abilities and help them to develop emotional intelligence, they should not have any such problems.
Now if someone makes a comment, I just tell them that every time I am teaching Ethan something it is done in a fun way. I do not try to push anything onto him if he is tired or irratable. It is no different than playing a game with a toy (which seems to be socially accepted). He loves all the activities that we do together. Kids love to learn and would much rather the love and attention of a parent (regardless of what is shown- book, toy, flashcards, little reader, the trees outside…) than just being sat in front of a television set.
I just want to give Ethan every opportunity to reach his full potential.
It sounds like you are having many of the same problems as the rest of us. Just know that you are doing wonderful things for your son, and he will greatly benefit from them. We are all here to support you!
The only people who knows about my ‘secret training’ other than my hubby, and my parents.
It’s good that they didn’t laugh at this idea like my MIL did. When I first told her that I’m sending my boy (1.5 year then) to brain-enrichment program, she was like :blink:, ‘why waste the $$?’, ‘how do you know that the baby’s learning?’, ‘babies will not remember what they learn’.
My MIL is a 15-year experience nanny. She felt that babies this age should sit in front of TV and watch the programs, so that they can keep quiet. If they are noisy, will need to take the pacifier, so that they can keep quiet. Afternoon naps for 2 times for 2 hours each, so that she can complete all her housechores and they can keep quiet. If they try to baby-talk, she will make a really fierce face and signal to them to keep quiet. That’s why, all the babies she taken care of are all VERY QUIET. I’ve seen all her techniques and it scares the h*** out of me.
Almost quarrelled with her when I refused to let her take care of my 2 boys. Think the reason’s obvious why.
Yes, I don’t tel anyone about our program. My parents are aware of it only on a very superficial level. they have seenthe word and dot flash cards and Blasie has impressed them by reading some of his words. But I know that the remainder of my friends, family and co-workers would say I was hot-housing my son. I would rather avoid their disapproving looks so I keep it private although luckily my husband is 100% on-board.
We have a new article on BrillBaby designed for anyone having difficulty explaining to others why they are teaching their baby/child to read. It’s called the Top 8 Myths of Early Reading and you can find it here…
You might also be interested in the pages on BB dedicated to the scientific research into early reading - go to the Promise of Early Reading and Early Reading Can Prevent Dyslexia (part of the Why Teach Reading Early? article)…
I’m sure not many critics would be aware that the more severe form of dyslexia (the one that doesn’t get better as you grow up) is actually caused by environmental not genetic factors.
Neither are many people aware that children who learn to read at three or four remain ahead of their peers who learned to read at a later age for as much as eight years!
So you can try the softly, softly tack first (“She enjoys it,” “It’s a game we play”) - and if that doesn’t work, him 'em with the science!
I have learned to not share what I am teaching my children not because they don’t believe me but because then later they start testing my children. I have to tell them to not test my children but they still do it behind my back. I wish I had not told anyone that I was doing the doman method because of the testing issue. Just something to watch out for.
It is hard to be involved with something so important yet not be able to tell people about it. I love this website because there are moms out there just like me. I find it amazing that there are so many people on board with this kind of program because in real life, I haven’t found a single person beside my husband.
I have chosen to mainly blog about my experience because I know that my coworkers and some family members will not agree with me. They would probably go as far as to say that I am damaging my child and that it is some kind of child abuse. Little do they know that my child smiles and begs for more words, is learning new things every day way beyond what would be expected of a two-year-old, and spends more time with his full-time student and working mother than probably most children.
I have started LR with my three-month-old while doing the presentations with my toddler. Derek loves them! He tries to talk to the screen and makes more movements. Because of this, I know that he is finding enjoyment in participating with his older brother. Who could ask for anything more?
This discussion was recently brought up on the December birth board on www.pregnancy.org
People are totally against any type of early learning. It is sad to see.
It is sad to hear that people are so against early education, but I have been blessed to have very supportive people in my life who even if they don’t fully understand it, they respect what I do. I have shared what I am doing with a few family members and on one occasion a stranger and that was because my 1 year old read the word yellow out of a book I showed him and she overheard and asked if he said what she think he said:) Even though I have received nothing, but positive responses from other, I would still continue teaching my son regardless…my son LOVES it and so do I.
Happy Teaching Everyone
Keep doin what you’re doin!!
When my first daughter was 1 i came accross Doman’s work and hoped to get into a program with her and have her reading by 2- I shared this with some people who were not supportive and sadly let the notion go- couldn’t shake it and have finally begun with her at 4 years old- if you’re new at this be careful who you tell- even people I thought would be so encouraging were skeptical- it was such a downer for me- I’ve become more protective of our teaching time and not really explaining it unless someone asks and i usually say it’s an early learning program and leave it at that. they think I’m doing baby einstein or something lol! I’m not solidly into it yet so I’m not comfortable defending it yet. just my 2 cents
Few years ago, I used to give surprising looks when someone used to tell me that they have started teaching maths or computers or other development programs to a very small child, since I never came across such things. Neither did my other family members.
But subsequently I found, learnt and started many development programs for our children, though many didnt approve or laughed at the back.
But I dont blame them, because at some point of time, I too did the same. Its the circle / group to which you belong to, that can guide you to the right things.
I’ve faced the same negative feedback from others about teaching my 4 month old to read. Its a shame that you end up keeping something so exciting to yourself. My husband and I have also been using EC since she was 6 weeks and don’t feel comfortable telling anyone about it.
But its ok, as long as we know she’s happy and were not forcing her to do anything. I’m glad I found this forum for support and info. Happy reading to all.
I don’t plan on telling many people either. I am really glad to have found this site, too! I haven’t met anyone else in person who is doing this, and when I tell people that Bri is already reading, they look at em like I’m a crazy mom. lol Then they change the subject. So, I don’t plan on bringing it up. It’s kind of sad, though, because it should be something that is common place, not abnormal. If only more people knew about the possiblities when they start to help develop an early love of reading, math, etc.!
I taught my daughter to read using YBCR, Doman, starfall, and lots and lots of books. She’s now 34 months, and I’m no longer actively teaching her because she can pretty much decode almost anything. Materials designed to “teach reading” are too easy at this point – We just read lots and lots of books.
When we were in the teaching phase, I mostly kept it under my hat because I read what other people said on other discussion sites, and I knew it was something controversial and I didn’t want people testing her. I made the mistake of telling my mom – who used every opportunity to “test” her and show her off – this really, really bothered me.
So now I have a not-yet-3-year-old who can read – and it’s really really cool. Its a source of great joy for our daughter and our family…but I still don’t like to mention it. Sometimes, people do notice, and we’ve told a few close friends. It seems to freak people out… Either they’re jealous or they think my daughter is a freak… or that we’re too “pushy”… I don’t know; I get bad vibes from some people. I’m not sure if I should try to explain how or why I taught her, or if I should say, “she just picked it up.” and change the subject. I don’t want people to get hung up about it. Her reading is just ONE part of her; there are many other things that make her beautiful, and unique. I’m glad I found this forum to meet other people who have very young children who enjoy the ability of reading.
