Wednesday, March 16, 2011

My Baby Can't Read

<- Momma, that's what you think.

Does anybody out there do (or did) the "Your Baby Can Read" flash cards thing? Apparently, a lot of people have, since the commercial claims they had over a million sold.

I'm not for or against it, I'm just curious about people's experiences. And I think our obssession to have absolutely everything be educational is kinda funny. Like, when I was a kid and my sister was a teenager, she used to tell me about this smart guy from her class, and how his parents made him watch/play with only educational stuff when he was a kid. We were like, "ooh, such horrible parents." Isn't funny how what's not educational that's being taken as weird right now?

What happened to cartoons that were only fun and silly - kinda like chocolate for the soul? I used to LOVE Tiny Toons and Animaniacs, they were HILARIOUS. And I don't think that something that's just funny for funnyness sake is necessarily empty. I was developing my sense of humor, excuse me. And today, this is my favorite writing style (hopefully it works :).

But, as I said, this is NOT a post against Your Baby Can Read or any educational mechanisms. Maybe these are the kids who'll discover the cure for cancer, who knows. All I know is that we're on a budget, and my baby is already too smart for me.

6 comments:

Jenner said...

I've seen those informercials as well. I wonder if kids learn to "read" that young if it really benefits them later in life, ya know? And I used to love Tiny Toons and Animaniacs, too. And hey, I watched those and graduated in the top 5% of my class in HS, so it can't be too detrimental!

Andrea E. said...

We have 2 or 3 of the DVDs from the "Your Baby Can Read" series, but no flashcards. (I'm thinking my mother-in-law probably got them at a yard sale...otherwise I don't know why we only have half of the series).

Anyway, it requires the baby to watch the video once a day from an upright position (because if they're lying down, a "v" might look like a ">" and so on). We haven't been faithful to that daily ritual so, therefore, our baby can't read.

That said, my boss' 2-year-old apparently can read her flash cards just fine...

I guess it's like joining a gym: It works if you work it. A lot.

Erin said...

I like your humor and your last line is my favorite! I can totally identify.

My Mummy Daze said...

Good food for thought. I don't push my kids with that kind of thing. I'd get too competitive and frustrated with them if they didn't live up to my expectations. I prefer to take a relaxed approach, guide them and offer them a balance of fun learning activities and TV babysitting! A sane mum is a good mum!

Ms. Blasé said...

Hey, I've got something for you on my site :) I hope you'll accept it. Whatever you decide, just have a rockin' St. Patty's Day!!!

P.S. - Animaniacs was one of my total favs, by the way! ...Along with Inspector Gadget... and Pinky and the Brain... and DuckTales... and Thunder Cats... and, well, you get the picture :P

Mommyfriend Lori said...

My babies couldn't read and my oldest learned in school...ain't nothin' wrong with that. Kids have their whole lives to learn at the designated pace. Who am I to rush things?

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