Teach Your Child to Read

Can babies really learn to read at 1? They can, they do, and they love to.

Create the right environment and offer your child lots of loving encouragement and you will not only help her to build a strong foundation to early literacy but you will also inculcate a healthy reading habit for life.

How do you teach a baby to read?

In a nutshell, it all boils down to:

Read lots of books to your baby
Play word games with your baby
Interact and bond with your baby
Have fun with your baby

Why do some experts say babies can’t really learn to read?

“Some experts don’t understand the importance of early “word reading.” Baby/toddler readers likely go through a different set of steps for organizing the reading brain circuitry than six-year-old nonreaders who learn to read from formal instruction in school. Some experts don’t recognize that babies pick up reading easily from developmentally appropriate interactions with parents and they have special language capacities from birth to age three, just as they do with learning multiple languages, enabling them to do remarkable things with learning to read during this special window of opportunity for brain development. Most of the experts who are skeptical think real reading begins with phonics and they don’t recognize that given the right exposure, toddlers can intuit the rules of phonics over time just like they intuit the rules of grammar which are necessary to speak in sentences.” – Dr Richard Gentry

See Also:

Teaching Children to Read:

BrillKids Little Reader – Complete system for teaching young children to read using computer software, books, and flash cards.
Glenn Doman Method – Teaching babies to read
Your Baby Can Read – Revolutionary, multi-sensory early-reading program that encourages infants and toddlers to naturally learn the written word at the same time as they learn the spoken word. Studies indicate that early readers are more confident, have higher self-esteem, and generally do better in school and in life. Your Baby Can Read teaches babies, toddlers and preschoolers written language during the window of opportunity for learning language.
Brilliant Minds Montessori Reading and Writing Kit – developed by Dr. Meredith McCurdy for her students at Brilliant Minds Montessori in Sanford, FL. Dr. McCurdy is a Certified Montessori Teacher and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Syracuse University, a Master’s Degree in Child Development and Education from the University of London, England, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of London, England. Dr. McCurdy is licensed and certified by the State of Florida in Child Care Center Management. Dr. McCurdy’s research into the cognitive-developmental processes of the preschool years has been published in The Journal of Child Study.
McGuffey Phonics and Reading – this is like the “Peter and Jane” series in an App format
Brainzy – online resource with fun games to help children develop their reading skills
ABC Mouse – Early learning academy with full online curriculum from preschool through kindergarten
Reading Eggs – online reading program for helping children learn to read through digital games and activities.
Hooked on Phonics – Designed in conjunction with leading educators, award-winning authors, teachers and parents, to help child learn the building blocks of reading.
Progressive Phonics – free site but registration required.
ABC Fast Phonics – free site teaching children to read with phonics.
Starfall – free site teaching children to read with phonics.
Oxford Owl – free site with resources to support children’s literacy development
Jones Geniuses Reading Program

Speed Reading:

Speed Reader-X – Online program for learning how to read faster with greater comprehension.
Jones Geniuses – speed reading program.

Online Stories, Digital Books and Books:

Read Along Story Books for Children – apps with fun stories for children to read along.
Speakaboos – online access to hundreds of children’s classic literature in a digital format. Beloved characters and treasured stories are given new life through amazing celebrity performances, beautiful illustrations, and original music. Speakaboos helps children develop literacy skills using technology in a safe and fun environment.
Story Time – Free Online Children’s Books.
Magic Keys – free online Children’s books.
Kids English Books – free site with ready to print children’s picture books with audio.
Mrs Jones – free site with ready to print mini books for emergent readers.
Recommended Books for Children
Read.gov – free access to the classics online.