We have been using BrillKids since January and I’m totally impressed with the results. The other day we got a library book, it was an easy board book with only 2 sentences per page. It was Barney and my son loves Barney so we got it. He can comprehend 60 page books so this was way below his level. I read the book once. The next day he picked it up and “read” it to himself verbatim. I don’t think he was reading because he spoke quickly and didn’t seem to be looking at the words. I think he memorized the book after me reading it once. It has about 15 pages in it and I know I hadn’t memorized it after reading it once.
We read for hours a day and after reading a book once he will correct me if I say the wrong word when I’m reading. So, I think he memorizes most of the books we read. He knows all the titles of all of them after me just saying them once in the library, and we usually get 20-30 books at a time. Sometimes it freaks me out when he asks for one and I have no idea which one he is talking about and then I find it in the library bag with the exact title.
When I read it I read at normal speed, not quickly like we flash lessons for him. So, I’m trying to figure out what is going on in his brain that allows him to do this? Is his right brain just developed enough that he can use it in all situations? He has an amazing memory. He remembers things from 6 months ago, never forgets a name, and is never wrong. I use him to remember shopping lists and other things because he will be able to remind me and he really is always right. He is 2 1/2 now.
Hi Cassidy,
Congratulations, this is js wonderful. I know this has been discussed many times about this issue, but can you tell me briefly explain your approach. Thank you very much!
Ilima
He was already advanced before we started Doman. I truely believe a good portion of it was from my parenting style. I wore him in a sling and still co-sleep with him so we were right next to each other literally 24/7 when he was young. The sling was so great because I could still do things but I was always narrating everything for him. Our days are definitely child-centered and he is very happy and thriving.
We really haven’t ever done that much with the Doman method. My goal is to have him watch bits 18 times a month for about 15 minutes each session. This month he has not been into it so we have only done it 5 times. Last month we did 13 sessions. We watched Tweedlewink as well.
We homeschool and read for hours each day. He has the most awesome vocabulary. We were around my 5 year old neice last weekend and I really didn’t see a difference between the two of them. They both ask what “uuuaexu” spells and things like that and he makes much more profound observations than she does.
I will start the bits with my next one sooner and I’m having a crawling track made for her. I just wonder if she will surpass him. They will be 3 years apart.
Great work, Cassidy! I think you have exactly the right approach–a modest amount of reading training and “bits” (that’s enough), but lots of reading and language generally.