Dear M.F.,

Infancy is a time of enormous intellectual growth, and good parents naturally want to make the most of it for their babies. But practicing with flash cards is one of the less stimulating things you can do with your baby. Besides, children who learn to read very early typically lose their head start later on. Why divert them from more important matters?

There are things you can do that will help your baby in the long run, not only to become a good reader but to help her develop listening, speaking, thinking and even memory. Keep in mind that these skills are built on broad foundations beginning in infancy. Rather than try to push her into later stages ahead of time, you can help her to achieve the fullest possible growth right where she is. You will be able to tell what is most stimulating for her, what enhances her mental growth most, by noting her level of fascination and enjoyment. Babies love to learn.

I can recommend two kinds of enrichment to grow a good reader: interaction and sound. Interaction is when you observe and respond to one another, talking, cooing, laughing, playing, sharing books . . . It is through interaction with others, especially mother, that babies learn language.

Sound is the basis of English, and the listening skills that help us to speak, read, think and remember are really quite elaborate. So sing children’s songs to your baby--make up songs, too, if you can--and bounce her in rhythm. Play with repetitive silly sounds, with rhymes, with baby-safe rhythm instruments. Teach her animal sounds, and environmental sounds like 'brrrrrrring' for the telephone; every baby needs books about sound in her library. Play Mozart for her. And let there be silence, too.

Best Wishes,
Ruth Alice Jurey, M.S.
Speech/Language Pathologist