Your Baby Can Read – Shut Down
Hopefully you followed our advice and never bought into the video series Your Baby Can Read that claimed to teach babies to read. Babies can’t read and putting them in front of a television, computer or other screen has more detremental effects than any possible or claimed benefit. The FTC has banned YBC from selling the videos citing false and deceptive advertising.
FTC imposes $185 million judgement
Thanks to the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood who petitioned the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Your Baby Can’s CEO agreed to settle with the FTC. In addition to ceasing the sale of the videos, the company has been barred from further use of the phrase Your Baby Can Read and was fined $185 million which is equal to the gross sales the company had since 2008. The FTC also filed action in federal court against Dr. Titzer the founder and spokesperson of the company.
The real way to develop pre-reading skills
Babies love hearing your voice. When you answer your child’s sounds with sounds of your own, she learns that what she “says” has meaning and is important to you.
What to Do
- Talk to your baby often. Answer her coos, gurgles, and smiles. Talk, touch, and smile back. Get her to look at you.
- Play simple talking and touching games with your baby. Ask, “Where’s your nose?” Then touch her nose and say playfully, “There’s your nose!” Do this several times, then switch to an ear or knee or tummy. Stop when she (or you) grows tired of the game.
- Change the game by touching the nose or ear and repeating the word for it several times. Do this with objects, too. When she hears you name something over and over again, your child begins to connect the sound with what it means.
- Do things that interest your baby. Vary your tone of voice, make funny faces, sing lullabies, and recite simple [amazon_link id=”0867130970″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]nursery rhymes[/amazon_link]. Play “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake” with her.
Sharing books is a way to have fun with your baby and to start him on the road to becoming a reader.
What You Need
- [amazon_link id=”0756615178″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Cardboard[/amazon_link] or [amazon_link id=”0312491506″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]cloth[/amazon_link] books with large, simple pictures of things with which babies are familiar
- [amazon_link id=”0794422764″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Lift-the-flap[/amazon_link], [amazon_link id=”0756634687″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]touch-and-feel[/amazon_link], or [amazon_link id=”1929927231″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]peek-through play [/amazon_link] books
- Please visit our store for the theme books we are reading with children each month. Most of them are for reading to the children, however, you can usually find similar cardboard or cloth books that babies can hold themselves.
What to Do
- Read to your baby for short periods several times a day. Bedtime is always a good time, but you can read at other times as well—while you’re in the park, on the bus, or even at the breakfast table (without the food!).
- As you read, point out things in the pictures. Name them as you point to them.
- Give your baby sturdy books to look at, touch, and hold. Allow him to peek through the holes or lift the flaps to discover surprises.
Babies soon recognize the faces and voices of those who care for them. As you read to your baby, he will begin to connect books with what he loves most—your voice and closeness. So turn off the screens and cuddle up with a good book.
More about me
- Are you using the right car seat? Is your child sitting in the safest spot? - May 15, 2017
- Rear facing car seat required - November 29, 2016
- Does this sound like your three year old? - August 9, 2016
