Teaching Children to Read Before They Can Talk

Children from birth to age 3 listen to a lot ofsometimes is a 'kooky knucklehead', as I call him.
words and learn to speak. Their vocabularies growWe read to him before he could talk and as soon
as they get older and they learn how to rhymeas he was able wanted to read the stories to us.
and to blend sounds to 'sound out' words andAs much as I would like to say it is in his genes,
memorize words by sight. Traditional public schoolsthe fact is we took advantage of the very
teach that children can't really learn to read andformative years and taught him. It didn't take a
comprehend until they reach 2nd & 3rdlot of special time.
grades. Yet kids are learning to recognize wordsI've tried to search the web for information from
before they can speak and to start reading, alouddoctors and psychologists, but they seem to tend
as soon as their language skills develop.to forget everything they teach about early
The more you read to a child at an early age, thechildhood education and focus on formal education
quicker their skills develop. Young children are likebeginning about 5 years of age. They write about
sponges picking up information at faster ratesyoung children developing and picking up new skills
than at any other time in their lives. Theyat a faster rate than any other time in their lives,
recognize words and are able to develop readingyet they undersell the learning potential they
skills much faster than our school system givespossess. We are doing our kids such a great
them credit. Is it any wonder that our kids havedisservice when we don't recognize there potential
troubles with words and numbers when we waitto learn early on. We can so easily give them a
until kindergarten to start teaching them.head start on their education. It doesn't depend
My nephew learned to read by age three. He ison socio-economic status, but on our taking a few
six now and amazes adults with his reading andmoments to teach them.
comprehension, far beyond his years. He usesI recently found a program that gives you all the
words and demonstrates understanding thattools you need so you don't have to fumble
leaves adults wondering how a child could knowaround. I wish I had discovered the program
so much and carry on an intelligent conversation.years ago. I could have been so much more
It is so funny to see him in a DVD, game or bookeffective with less effort. I take every chance to
section reading aloud the covers before decidinghand out information about this program so
his choice. Adults passing by are amazed that heparents of babies and toddlers can give their
can not only read adult level words, but actuallychildren an advantage. Parents need to give their
understands what he reads. Believe me, he is kidchildren all the advantage they can in preparation
through and through. He loves to play andfor life.