As with all milestones, children will reach them in their own unique time frames. From crawling, walking, talking, or reading, most kids will master them when they are ready.
Despite what some products advertise, child psychologists say you cannot teach a baby to read. Their brains simply aren’t wired to learn to read in infancy.
Whether you have a baby or a 4-year-old, you may be anxious for the day they learn to read. Below, we’ll dive into the research of what experts say you should and should not do to foster this important life skill.
How Early Can Babies Start to Learn New Skills?
You may have heard the analogy that kids’ brains are like sponges. It’s true. They are born ready to learn, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Their brains grow at a rapid rate from birth through early childhood. In fact, the CDC says the first 8 years of a child’s life can build a foundation for future learning, health, and life success.
That may feel like a lot of pressure to parents and caregivers. They alone are responsible for supporting child development in those early years. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, consider it a privilege! You are in charge of molding the next generation. How cool is that?
The CDC says parents and caregivers can give babies a healthy start simply by speaking to, playing with, and caring for them. Activities like reading books together strengthen kids’ language and communication skills. Both skills are building blocks of reading.
As parents, it is important to set realistic expectations. Adding undue pressure on your child and yourself is not helpful, and some researchers say it can actually be harmful.
Can Babies Really Learn To Read?
There are several companies that claim their products can help babies, as young as 3 months old, learn to read. They market flashcards, DVDs, and other programs, all at a price, to achieve this goal.
The companies claim their methods include teaching babies to read whole words prior to learning the alphabet. They emphasize repetition and frequent lessons. Many companies say it’s easier to teach a baby to read than an older child. One company claimed 3- and 4-year-olds could read Harry Potter books after using its products.
One program, called Your Baby Can Read, became extremely popular in the late 1990s. TV and radio ads showed babies reading basic words. People were stunned, and parents bought into it. Many paid $200 or so for the flashcards, DVDs, and more.
Later, many of them learned that their kids did not know how to read, and they filed a class-action lawsuit. The Federal Trade Commission also got involved, penalizing the founders of Your Baby Can Read.
What Does the Research Say?
Following the popularity of Your Baby Can Read, researchers aimed to answer the question once and for all: can babies really learn to read?
Researchers at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development conducted a randomized trial of babies to study the efficacy of the Your Baby Can Read products.
One hundred and seventeen infants, ages 9 to 18 months old, were randomly assigned to two basic groups. One group used the DVDs, flashcards, and word books daily over a 7 month period, while the other group of babies did not and went about their normal routines.
The researchers at NYU used state-of-the-art eye-tracking technology in their study. That technology was used to follow even the slightest eye movements to monitor how the infants distributed their attention. The eye movements also revealed how the babies shifted their gaze from one spot to another when they were shown specific words and phrases.
Using this series of eye-tracking tasks and standardized measures, researchers examined the following:
- Precursor skills, such as letter name, letter-sound knowledge, print awareness, and decoding
- Conventional reading, such as vocabulary and comprehension
Results of the trial found that the babies who used the media that promised reading skills did not learn to read. There was no difference in skill level in the two groups of babies in 13 of 14 assessments conducted. The only assessment that showed a difference was parents’ beliefs that their child was learning to read with those products, according to researchers.
In 2012, the Federal Trade Commission filed false and deceptive advertising charges against the marketers of Your Baby Can Read and its CEO. The FTC said ads claimed the program gave kids who used the program a head start in school than those students who did not, but there was no proof in that promise.
The defendants settled and faced a $185 million judgment, which equaled the company’s gross sales of its products.
It is worth clarifying: the FTC files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated. Filing a complaint is not a finding or ruling that a person, persons, or company have actually violated the law. The settlement order is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by defendants that they violated the law.
When Do Babies Learn to Read?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most children learn to read by 6 or 7 years of age. Some kids may pick up reading by 4 or 5 years old. But just because a child has a head start in reading doesn’t mean he or she will stay ahead once school starts, experts said.
An author and educational consultant, Wiley Blevins, told The Washington Post that the earliest he has ever seen a child learn to read is 4 years old. Blevins has written 15 book on methods for teaching early reading.
Blevins said reading is defined by analyzing words letter by letter and sound by sound, instead of regurgitating what you’ve memorized.
What Are the Arguments Against Trying to Teach Babies to Read Too Early?
The American Academy of Pediatrics said pushing children to read before they are ready can negatively impact their interest in learning. The AAP says “love of learning” cannot be forced, and children who truly enjoy learning are more likely to do well in school.
Other experts believe teaching pre-kindergarten students to read could lead to a disability diagnosis. Parents, caregivers, and other adults could label children as “slow readers,” when in fact, their brains are not developed enough to read quite yet. Many experts believe young children do not have the attention span or motivation to focus on something as complex as reading.
What Skills Do Kids Need to Master Before They Can Read?
According to the education experts at the non-profit group Waterford.org, the following are pre-reading skills that young students need to learn before they read independently:
- Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize words, sounds, or syllables
- Alphabet knowledge is the ability to recognize and name print alphabet letters
- Print recognition is a familiarity with books and ability to hold them correctly
- Phonemic awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate individual sounds within a word
- Critical thinking skills describe the ability to analyze a topic and form a unique, informed opinion
- Spoken language fluency is the ability to speak and understand their native language or languages on an oral level
What Should Parents Do to Help Their Children to Learn to Read?
There are several things parents can do to encourage the love of learning while teaching children the skills they need to learn to read. Waterford.org offers some practical, developmentally appropriate things parents can and should do to help their children to learn.
- Read often with your kids. You can start reading with your child from birth. Simply reading to and with your baby teaches him or her listening skills and print recognition, both of which are essential when it comes to reading independently.
- Talk to your children. It may seem awkward when baby can’t talk back, but narrate what you’re doing constantly. Similar to reading together, this helps babies understand sounds, language, and communication skills – all building blocks to reading.
- Take trips to the library. Experts say regular trips to the library help kids develop print recognition. To encourage an early love of reading, let them choose books to check out and read at home.
- Teach pre-kindergarten children the letters and symbols of the alphabet. Experts say students are more likely to succeed in reading in elementary school if they know their letters before kindergarten.
- Make it a game. We all learn better when we are having fun. When out for a walk or an errand, point to letters on a sign and ask your child to tell you what sound it makes. This encourages phonological awareness. Remember to praise children often when they get it right and avoid expressing disappointment or frustration when they’re still learning.
- Keep it short. Children have very short attention spans. Engaging in lengthy reading sessions can be exhausting and not fun. Plan to read together multiple times a day but for shorter spurts.
- Have your child “read” to you. Once your child is verbal but not quite reading, have them read and narrate the book to you. This spotlights their imagination and makes them feel proud and accomplished. Remember what the experts emphasize: reading flows from a love of learning.
- Ask questions while reading aloud. Asking your child questions about the story you’re reading together promotes critical thinking skills. As an example, “Why do you think Lightning McQueen was sad when he lost the race?”
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these tips when reading together with your child:
- Run your finger under the words as you read to show your child that the print carries the story.
- Use funny voices and animal noises. This will help your child get excited about the story.
- Stop to look at the pictures and ask your child to name things she sees in the pictures. Talk about how the pictures relate to the story.
- Invite your child to join in whenever there is a repeated phrase in the text.
- If your child asks a question, stop and answer it. The book may help your child express her thoughts and solve her own problems.
- Keep reading to your child even after she learns to read. A child can listen and understand more difficult stories than she can read on her own.
- Leave books in your child’s room. This allows your child to explore and enjoy books on his or her own. Create a reading-friendly environment in your child’s room with a comfortable bed or chair, bookshelf, and reading lamp.
- Read books that your child enjoys. After many reading sessions, your child may learn the words to her favorite book. When this happens, let your child complete the sentences or take turns reciting the words.
- Recognize your child’s limits and stop reading before signs of frustration or fatigue.
- Do not pressure your child. Do not force or drill your child on letters, numbers, colors, shapes, or words. Instead, make it enjoyable and find ways to encourage your child’s curiosity and interests.
Once your child gets the hang of reading, have him or her read out loud. This helps build confidence! But remember, they are still learning. If he asks for help with a word, give it right away. Do not force him to sound it out, unless he wants to try it on his own.
And finally, give a lot of praise!
Final Thoughts
As parents, we want our children to be happy and to set them up for success later in life. I don’t fault the parents who buy products that claim they can teach babies to read. After all, those parents are simply trying to do what they believe is best for their children.
While we as parents have an awesome responsibility to mold young minds, it’s important to remember that our children are unique and independent. Of course, there are suggested milestones, but most kids will reach them in their own time.
Pediatricians, educators, and experts say most children will learn to read once they enroll in school. Let that take the pressure off of you as a parent if you have a baby or preschooler at home. As discussed, there is plenty we can do to nurture pre-reading skills, and most of us are probably doing that already in some shape or form.
One of the great joys and privileges of parenthood is to watch your children learn. And once your child reaches the milestone of reading, it will make your heart swell with pride.
