Early this week I was being approached by Brillbaby.com to write my opinion about teaching reading and math to babies. When I first read the website, I thought the whole idea was crazy. As I was reading more and more, I thought… hmmm… this is interesting. Babies’ brain are like sponges, they absorb everything you teach them. So what do you need in order to teach them? Use a set of flash cards three times a day using the technique I explain below.
The technique for teaching math is by using flash cards that show dots that represent the number, e.g. six dots represent number “6″, because that’s how babies visualize numbers. However, if your baby is over two years old like mine, you can probably start by using the actual number. My son recognizes a few numbers already from the daycare. Using that flash cards, you can actually start teaching them the equation.
For reading, the technique is by showing the letter and words on the flip side of the flash card before showing the picture, a little backwards from what I’ve been doing. My son loves reading and looking at pictures on the flash cards. I actually saw a video of a sixteen month old baby who can actually read. It was pretty amazing!
Honestly I have a mix feeling about this whole idea. Is it really important for children to be good in math and reading? Yes it’s true that math is in our every day’s life. But is it really that important? Seriously, teaching with flash cards three times/day is quite a commitment for a full time working mom. I’ve never been good in math though I was pretty good in reading. Even worse, I was born and raised in a country where you have to be a doctor, engineer or accountant in order to make a good living. Obviously those occupations require someone to be good in math, hence, I was predicted as a failure. Here in the United States, we have the priviledge to be successful being anything we want, as long as we work hard and have the passion for it. We can be athletes, artists, musician, or even entrepreneur, and still make a good living. Like I said before, I always struggled in math back in school, and still do in my adulthood. But I survive. I make a good living being an accountant, in contrary of what my teachers used to tell me.
It all comes back to you as a parent. The choice is yours. Nothing is right or wrong when it comes to making decision for your child. If it’s important that your child is good in math and reading, then it is possible to start from an early age. Brillbaby will teach you everything you need to know in order to meet your goal. Otherwise, you can accept your child the way he is, develop him according to his talent and interest, and just be happy.
Tags: brillbaby, education, mom blog, mommy diary, mommylicious, parent blog, Parenting, parenting blog, the mom diary
July 19th, 2009 at 10:44 am
There is SO much pressure on children to be smarter, faster, better or stronger… ugh! Let them be babies and when the time comes to “teach” them math… so be it. That’s why we pay taxes and have some excellent teachers in the system. We will not love our kids any less if they fail to be rocket scientists.
Bradi
MyWorkButterfly.com
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Agree! I still think the use of flash card is beneficial to develop their vocabulary, but I probably won’t use it for math.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:34 pm
How interesting. As someone who lives in a really bad school system area, and will probably homeschool eventually if we are still here this is something rather neat to me. My daughter is just now four months old, and I’m in no rush to push her, but this might be neat to add as a game as she gets more interested in outward interactions…
BTW, I found this post through your link in the comments on Kindred Spirit Thoughts & Reviews.