Teach Your Baby to Read

So you have seen the commercials and morning shows that feature 2 year old children reading. You've started to get worried that your child may be left behind if you don't invest in the
Your Baby Can Read System. Oh yes, I used the word invest because it is a hefty sum. You buy a bunch of learning dvd's (forgetting that too much television rots the brain). You run around like a chicken with its head cut off and forget that you read well and never had any of the new early childhood development kits. Did you know that by 3rd or 4th grade, most children are on the same level? No matter what, where, or when they started, their comprehension of math and reading is on target with children of the same age. However I know that there are still parents who are convinced that their child is advanced and in line to be recognized as the next genius. If you are truly interested in teaching your child to read, start with the basics and build upon them. Here is a routine that I have done with my daughter since she was around 5 months:

Items Needed: A pack of alphabet flash cards, books

1. With a clear and steadily paced voice, sing the alphabet while showing each card with the uppercase letters.

2. Say the alphabet while showing each card with the lower case letter.

3. Once your have repeated this for several weeks, help your child practice saying each letter. (This step will only work if your child is able to babble or talk.)

4. After several more weeks have passed, say the alphabet letter. Then iterate the consonant letter sound. For example say "B" and then say "buh." Keep making the consonant sound until your child does it. Then give them praise by clapping or smiling.

5. Most importantly READ to your child. Books with one sentence per page can be very helpful in learning individual words.

This is only the beginning, but it will help your child understand the basics of learning to read.
Be careful about how you teach your child to read. There has been evidence that "sight" or "whole word reading" can be detrimental. I will blog about the differences in an upcoming post. Remember, In the long run it doesn't matter whether your child reads at 2 or 7. What matters is that they become a literate adult that understands how to master their language by comprehending and conveying meaning to other people.