Today, childcare experts know that a youngster’s brain is a lot like a sponge. Experts have also learned that children thrive in a learning environment where they are actively engaged. And parents have taken those findings to heart. But many parents who wish to give their offspring a head start often feel overwhelmed by the plethora of products available. How do you choose what’s the best fit?

Your Baby Can Read! is an award-winning program that assists parents in teaching their children, (from babies to five years of age) how to read via dvd’s, slidecards, and picture cards. The approach is one of sight, sound, and interaction amongst caregiver and child.

The system includes lots of neat stuff. Each dvd contains many fun activities and engaging dialogue, and shows words that correspond with the spoken word and a picture. The dvds are full of songs, with the words shown karaoke style, so the child will associate the words sung with the spoken word. A series of flashcards are included, as well, each showing a picture to match the word.

The program was created by Dr. Robert Tizer, an infant researcher, father, and professor. He began creating his program in 1991, when his daughter Aleka was a baby. The program, which focuses on teaching reading through whole word recognition, was refined over time. According to one blogger, the program does incorporate some elements of sounding the word out, which is good. There is a lot of repetition, which is exactly what children need in order to recognize words.

So what did our reviewers think? How did their children respond?

Once the DVD got into full swing, my normally very active toddler sat down on her butt and watched the entire video. I liked the fact that the entire thing is short and bright and rather engaging. There were plenty of opportunities for me to interact with her while she was watching the video and she remained interested throughout the whole thing.

While some bloggers and their children enjoyed the quickly paced word presentations, others felt it too fast. One blogger’s daughter would try to read the word, but either the answer was given too quickly, or the screen would move to a new word too fast, and it would frustrate her. Sometimes I would help her out by pausing the video so she could see the word–I suspect her vision issues were a factor in not seeing the word right away–and this helped.

The flashcards were a big hit among the crowd. One blogger noted: What I will RAVE about, though, are the flash cards that came with the set. These sliding word cards with a word on front and another on the back, open up to reveal the word’s image in real life photos. They are so wonderful that for Easter my girls grandmother bought them the entire set. Another added, the blank card was a good idea, too. I wrote each boy’s name on one side and they liked flipping it back and forth.

One writer loved the program so much, she wished she’d found out about it sooner. This DVD set could have made things easier with the two boys had I had it back 4 years ago. The same writer enthuses that now the younger children (ages 3, 2, and 18 months) have the opportunity to use this DVD program. I can’t wait to see the progress they will be making. Just after a few viewings, they are saying words I hadn’t heard them say before. Look out early reader groups, here we come!

To learn more about the program or to purchase, visit the Your Baby Can Read! program or visit Amazon.