Still learning to read!
Back in March, I got to review a set of introductory DVDs from the learning colletcion, Your Baby Can Read. Breanna isn’t particularly interested in anything that doesn’t involve Dora, Diego, or Caillou, but Hayley loves the idea of learning to read so she’s all over the DVDs. When I got a chance, via the Parent Bloggers Network, to review volume 2, I didn’t hesitate because I knew she would be into it.
It’s surprising to see her pick up words and to know she actually knows what they spell. The second volume of DVDs is just as good as the first round. She’s not doing what I would call reading yet, she’s just reading words here and there but the reason I like the DVD is that it keeps it interesting to her. She constantly asks me what letters spell when she sees them in books, on boxes, on signs, on TV, so having the Your Baby Can Read DVDs only encourages that.
Perhaps the biggest irony involves the flash cards that come with this set (as they did in the first one too). I always said I wouldn’t be the mom with the flash cards, thinking it was a little too much, a little too rigid. Right. Never say never, because Hayley loves the flash cards even more than the DVDs. She continuously asks me if we can go through some of them and she enjoys trying to figure out what they say before I show her the corresponding picture.
Meanwhile, although Breanna isn’t as keen yet, she does occasionally watch them in between playing and if she sees a picture she recognizes, she’ll shout it out. She’s not learning to read, but she does enjoy the bright pictures, the other kids, and the bouncy kid-friendly music.
Since Hayley is starting Kindergarten in just a few short weeks (ack!), having something besides just my own enthusiasm to encourage her desire to read is wonderful.