tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6002324729475292127.post7232776125198249432..comments2023-04-12T05:27:15.177-07:00Comments on DomesticallyBlissed: Teaching babies to read - who's really the dummy?Gypsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14507297241750333316noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6002324729475292127.post-76068563597576081692008-07-21T01:23:00.000-07:002008-07-21T01:23:00.000-07:00Oh its so nice to have bloggy friends that agree w...Oh its so nice to have bloggy friends that agree with me - thanks for such well thought out comments! Its just a shame there is no money in our way of thinking, and lots of money to be made from 'baby pushing!'Gypsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14507297241750333316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6002324729475292127.post-69632119130419668162008-06-30T23:47:00.000-07:002008-06-30T23:47:00.000-07:00I am a supporter of academics later. So many child...I am a supporter of academics later. So many children are missing life skills, life learning. Book learning, in my opionion, is a supplement to LIFE!Lizzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09264887467449645738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6002324729475292127.post-64939198322359167932008-06-29T23:44:00.000-07:002008-06-29T23:44:00.000-07:00I saw this segment too and was disgusted. (And tha...I saw this segment too and was disgusted. (And that's coming from someone who's child was naturally reading very early.) I don't believe you should *stop* children from learning to read early if they want to, as Steiner recommends, but to train babies and toddlers to read is not only silly but downright damaging, as you pointed out. <BR/><BR/>I didn't like the argument provided that it's bad for the children because then they'll be advanced in school and will get bored. That's pandering to an education system that you assume isn't going to work for the advanced child (it doesn't, but that's beside the point!) More worrying to me is what is going on with the child's brain as it's being forced to track print at an age where the brain isn't ready for it. <BR/><BR/>Actually, looking at intellectually "gifted" children who involve themselves in early academics provides a good insight into what dangers there are in early reading, flashcards, etc. There is a high correlation between intellectually "gifted" children and sensory issues, visual processing problems, allergies, etc, which I suspect more and more may come from the over-development of their intellectual faculties at an age when their bodies and nervous systems should have been just developing. (I'm not saying parents of "gifted" children hothouse their children, but so often the children hothouse <I>themselves</I> due to a "rage to learn." This can't and shouldn't be dampened, but balance is essential.) <BR/><BR/>When I think of all the pressure foolish experts like this put on already-anxious parents, it makes me so cross.sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03818420999930644450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6002324729475292127.post-23499730255449582152008-06-29T19:03:00.000-07:002008-06-29T19:03:00.000-07:00AAAARRRGGHHH!!! Stupid , stupid, stupid!!!! I my...AAAARRRGGHHH!!! Stupid , stupid, stupid!!!! I my perfect world, EVERY parent should have to read<BR/>Miseducation-by David Elkind.<BR/>I'm just loving all your thought provoking posts!RunninL8https://www.blogger.com/profile/00954492756662221754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6002324729475292127.post-12911436763146926812008-06-29T17:18:00.000-07:002008-06-29T17:18:00.000-07:00When I read this, I immediately thought of one of ...When I read this, I immediately thought of one of my favorite movies, <A HREF="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098067/" REL="nofollow">Parenthood</A> .<BR/><BR/>Rick Moranis is teaching his daughter all kids of incredibly intellectual things, and she doesn't even know how to play. Meanwhile Steve Martin's kids are wearing colanders as helmets and running all over. It's a comedic exaggeration, but only just!<BR/><BR/>The sad part for me is that these parents are well intentioned. They only want the best for their children. Unfortunately what they consider the "best" might end up with unintended and unwanted consequences.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6002324729475292127.post-74850175230007050502008-06-29T15:10:00.000-07:002008-06-29T15:10:00.000-07:00Totally totally agree. That segment made me reall...Totally totally agree. That segment made me really sad - what happened to letting babies be babies? Memorizing whole words is not the same as 'reading' (with comprehension etc) and I really fail to see the benefits of a 3mth old having daily flashcard practice. (I for one have other things to enjoy with my babies at that age for goodness sake - like cuddles and singing and just being together)<BR/> I agree, much better to wait.<BR/><BR/>Personally I will always let my kids dictate what age THEY want to learn to read. THere is no way my 6yo DD would have waited till 7 to learn to read (have to admit that is one Steiner-y thing that doesnt sit with me well)- I think its important to go where they want to go and she was interested much earlier. If my other DDs want to get into reading later/earlier then we will do it when they are ready and keen. And it certainly wont involve flashcards or DVDs ;)sweetphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02084112410852347985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6002324729475292127.post-12758235822413548852008-06-29T15:07:00.000-07:002008-06-29T15:07:00.000-07:00yeah the his excuse was that babies are wired to l...yeah the his excuse was that babies are wired to learn learn learn, which is true, but think of all the other things they could be learning in that time rather than what ink blots on a page are?! they have their whole schooling to master that, better to utilise their early learning opportunities with *real* things that they aren't going to cover in school! and no, i don't mean astrophysics ;) things like playing in the garden & talking about what the plants are, and what the birds are that you can hear singing.. beautiful and fun things :)<BR/><BR/>besides, if they are ready, preschoolers will begin to learn through *living*, without the need to be *taught*..Novahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06100114318065075212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6002324729475292127.post-2397743119307893912008-06-29T13:17:00.000-07:002008-06-29T13:17:00.000-07:00I agree wholeheartedly! Great to read this post.I agree wholeheartedly! Great to read this post.clarebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125190438042846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6002324729475292127.post-4953058008022732072008-06-29T07:16:00.000-07:002008-06-29T07:16:00.000-07:00This trend of teaching babies to read concerns me ...This trend of teaching babies to read concerns me as well. I really think that it is most often a pride issue for parents who like to be able to tell everyone that their baby can read because they think it makes them look like a "good" parent.dawn klingehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10068232686648964979noreply@blogger.com