Why would you want to teach a baby to read at 6 months?

[Pogger]

Have just been invited to join a group for this on FB, but not sure if you can link to it from here.

Is it just me that finds this really odd? Why would you want to teach a 6 month old to read?! DD is 6.5 months and far too busy learning to put both feet in her mouth at the same time

www.yourbabycan.co.uk/default.aspx?adid=gglybu

Is it really about teaching them to read - or going through the process of showing pictures and talking (you talking, not the baby obviously!)?

My 19mo DS rarely concentrates just to look at the pictures to the end of a very short board book

Looks like some ripoff merchant. £125 for bunch of flash cards and assorted rubbish?

I've been reading to DS and showing him books since he was about 8 weeks old, but I certainly don't expect him to read. As my mom says, this is preparation for enjoying/being interested in books, time for us to have a cuddle, time for him to associate books with sitting still and looking at the pages. It will be ages before he does anything more than that. Mom did the same with me and my brother, and we both developed a lifelong love of reading.

At 6 months DS really likes his books, but I have no illusions that he wants to do anything besides chew on them (and occasionally look at pictures of baby faces!)

I have heard of this. There is someone called Glen Dorman, who advocates teaching physical skills and maths to young babies as well.

Teaching a six month old baby how to read is nuts. Although it is completely harmless. I am sure that the baby enjoys the one to one attention. It just seems a lot of work when its so easier to teach a slightly older child.

Wait until your child is three or four years old and shows an interest in learning to read. You can then buy the Jolly Phonics teaching manual for about £13 and teach your child how to read properly spending ten minutes a day in about six weeks flat.

It is much better to spend your time doing language aquisition activites with a younger child. For example sing to your baby, tell them what you are doing, read stories. There is no point in teaching them to recongise text (either by look say or phonics) if they do not understand basic language.

So why cant these self proclaimed "experts" let babies be babies? Einstein never read at 6 months

What next? Entrance exams for new borns to come into the world?

Having thought about it a bit more, I actually think it makes me a bit cross. The money aspect, especially when there's so much stuff thrown at new parents to make them feel as if they're not 'doing enough' with/ for their babies. But also the fact that it just adds another layer to the whole competitive parenting thing. Couldn't agree more, WhoLetTheBuggerOut - let babies be babies. More than enough time for structured learning later.

DD also likes looking at, chewing & throwing books across the room, but I just want her to get used to sitting still for a few minutes, in preparation for me reading stories to her properly, same as YanknCock.

ReallyTired - teaching babies Maths?! In case they need to count out change when they pop to the shops?

Have a look at this site.

www.iahp.org/

I am sure that the founder is right that our children do learn more in the early years than at any other time of their lives. I am just sceptical if his methods are the best. I think what most good mothers do instinctively is the best for babies.

yes this makes me really cross as well; babies grow at different rates but their brains need to develop properly. We studied child psychology at college, i noticed that at schools now they reckon that all children can learn to read earlier than before and for some who want to ;that's fine but most can't and are stressed out at 4yrs old ITS NOT RIGHT.

How silly. Children (of all ages) should be encouraged to enjoy reading and books. When they are young, this will be through being read to/with. As they get older they will learn to read themselves, either at school or at home. I don't see why the time at which they make this transition is relevant.

I'll wager that most 6 month olds will gain most enjoyment from being read to/with, as will most (although not all) 4 or 5 year olds. I agree that the pressure on children to achieve particular academic goals in reception (4/5 year olds) is wrong. DS1 entered reception a fluent reader, but was not ready to write (not able to hold a pencil properly or write his name in lower case letters). His fantastic teacher recommends lego and no pressure. Sadly this is not the case for most of his friends, who are being pressured into reading and writing well before they are ready