For example - a friend posted if those "teach your baby to read" things were worth the money. Her son is 2, and won't sit down to read the flash cards and she was curious. I didn't a little research (like, two minutes to just see what age skill was reading) and found out that reading is a 3-5 year old skill and not to worry if they don't read before then. I told her that. I said that he is 2, and probably isn't interested in reading, so they "force" him into it when doctors say you shouldnt worry about it until at least 5. That could turn him off to reading, and learning, possibly which is what you want to avoid as a parent, right?
Someone else commented and said yes, they help you "read" but really it's just memorizing which isn't good. Someone else commented all like they DO work! We are so far behind in learning in the US so anything to help him get a leg up (im paraphrasing here) is a good thing. Ps most doctors don't know what they are talking about.
That PS part is what annoyed me. Now, I don't think the school systems are OMG AMAZING in the US, but I think a doctors know a thing or two. They don't know everything, no, but thats why they have their specialties. So, if someone is a pediatrician, they know a thing or two about age skills. That's their job. That's all they do is work with kids. That's one of the big things they are supposed to know.
Yes, there are exceptions to those. Hi, Emma was saying my name at like a year and a half, when most kids haven't been able to say it til at LEAST 3 years old. At 2, she is potty trained. Kimmie says my name also, and does a lot of things that are "over her age" skills but they learned them on their own and they were ready. Do you think that if Michelle bought Emma a DVD on how to go pee in the potty before she was ready it would have worked? She may have learned about it, but it wouldn't have taught her the right way. She was ready, so it worked.
I just think "forcing" your children to learn before they are ready is stupid and will do more harm then good. Your kid is 2, it's not important for them to read yet. If they are ready to read, they will learn. You need to help your children learn and get in the habit of school and what not, but you can't force them to do it. What's the point? So you can brag and say "HA, my kid can read?" Who cares.
If people realize that every kid learns at a different rate and to different methods I think we wouldn't be so "behind" on our education. If you look at other countries they have more of a individual program for the kids. They understand each kid learns differently and they focus on that.
With that being said, I still say my niece and nephews are the smartest kids EVER.
