One of the biggest parenting concerns is that our children have every opportunity to excel. Many child development experts believe that teaching children to read, in infancy, will help them get ahead in life. On the one hand this philosophy has merit because the written word is the gateway to other disciplines. On the other hand, early learning is still relatively new. There are several methods for teaching infants to read, one of which is the Your Baby Can Read (YBCR) program.
YBCR Program
Developed by Dr. Robert Tizer, the YBCR program uses a multisensory method for teaching infants to read. The multisensory method uses several different types of media to reinforce the meaning of written words and appeals to three different learning styles -- auditory, sensory and kinesthetic. Dr. Titzer markets a series of books and DVDs in the YBCR program. In a typical lesson a child may watch a video showing words like "foot", "knee", and "hand" while a voice directs him to touch those parts of his body. Or, the video may show an action like "jump" while having him jump, thereby associating the written word with an action.
Teaching Your Child to Read
While there are books and videos on the subject, you can also make your own multisensory learning tools. You can use homemade flip cards -- folded cards with a word on the flap and a picture underneath -- or play "Simon Says" while showing your child printed cards with the associated words. Also, putting labels on household objects may help your child associate the word with the action or thing. There are also electronic tools like the Little Reader Learning System.