For those who don't know, it is easier to teach your child to read early on in his life (from the ages of zero to three), than later! Many experts suggest that by teaching your child to read before they begin formal education, they will find school-based education easier from the get-go as they will not have to learn reading skills at the same time that they have to comprehend curriculum material. So what options are available to parents who are interested in teaching their child to read early? Let's look at a few.
TWEEDLEWINK
Tweedlewink is a set of DVD volumes, made for children ages 0-6. Borrowing from the theory that the right-brain-dominant nature of babies allows them to quickly absorb vast amounts of information, each lesson covers a broad spectrum of topics including vocabulary, phonics, whole words, poetry, early speed reading, and more. Relaxation music and soothing voices narrate each lesson and is designed to build rich neurological connections in your child's mind during the early formative years.
The founder, Pamela Hickein, states that "Tweedlewink is the springboard from which our children can develop and grow as happy, healthy, compassionate and kind people who have equal amounts of IQ and EQ, intellect and creativity at their disposal". Being DVD-based, this product is quite easy to use as you can simply put the disc in and play!
KidThing
A software program described by its creators as a "digital media player", KidThing was founded by a group of parents who believed kids everywhere deserved better content in a safe learning environment. Their vision has resulted in a program with a very clean, simple aesthetic where games, stories and videos can all be played in the main window, with additional content available for purchase via their online store.
In Story mode the words light up as they are being spoken, and animations illustrate the story. Other features include content reminiscent of encyclopedic knowledge flash cards that teach your child about various topics in a casual and fun manner. I found the content and overall feel of the software to be absolutely adorable, but as a reading tool it may be more suited towards older children with a basic reading foundation as the animations and illustrations may distract babies and toddlers from learning to read.
LITTLE READER
Little Reader is a software program for children 4 months and up created by BrillKids, a company that aims to create fun, innovative and user-friendly products in the field of early childhood education. It integrates traditional flash card methods as well as multi-sensory techniques to promote early language recognition and efficient learning. Using a slideshow format, Little Reader combines words with pictures, sound effects, pronunciations and videos to enhance the learning experience. You can download hundreds of categories of words to supplement your library for free, and Little Reader also allows you to print out flashcards in two different flash card styles.
The program is highly flexible and customizable; allowing you to personalize and control what your child learns. However, I did find I needed some patience in learning how to use the program before I really appreciated its features.
Perhaps most surprising, however, is that all three products (or rather, their founders) suggest using their reading tools along with other methods, and not to simply look for the one true product. Children and babies have an immense capacity for stimulation, and having various tools at hand may well delight your little one! The important thing to remember is that as long as your child is learning, no matter what the tool, you are providing him with a foundation that he will have for the rest of his life. Happy teaching!
By Madeleine Fitzpatrick
No comments:
Post a Comment