Rating: 
Summary: Early Reader
Review: Both editions have similar premises:
1. Children should learn words, followed by books including those words. The alphabet, a more abstract concept, will follow later.
2. Children need large text separated from pictures to accommodate their visual acuity. Many children's books have small text mixed with art work and the child can't distinguish the words.
3. Learning to read should be an enjoyable shared emotional experience between parent and child.Both editions have six "motivating" chapters which now may be obsolete; with the advent of children's television, everyone is aware that children are able to read much earlier. The first edition advocated teaching a small number of words with flash cards followed by a book containing those words. The approach was somewhat informal. There were a few obvious "rules", such as keeping the sessions short and private without distractions. The approach in the second edition is extremely structured and detailed. It advocates teaching words, then couplets, then phrases, and then the (new) book. The number of sessions per day, the content, and the timing are outlined in great detail. My initial reaction to this change was negative. It's much more work for the parent and its formality takes some of the fun out it. I later realized that the objective of this more ambitious approach was to teach language (grammar) as well as reading. I haven't attempted this with my granddaughter, so I reserve judgment. Based on my earlier experience, I think either approach or some compromise would still be a great benefit. I highly recommend this approach. This book really needs the support of the kit, which contains the words in uniform large text. I was a poor graduate student when I purchased the first book, and I couldn't imagine creating all of those flash cards myself. I was disappointed to find that the new kit has fewer words and more couplets and phrases. Personally, I also had the advantage of phonics training in school in the early grades, and I recommend this as a sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Can't Wait To Have My Baby and Teach Her How To Read!
Review: How would you like to create a unique bond between you and your baby, increase your baby's intelligence and instill in your child a lifelong love of learning? Then, teach your baby to read! A simple, proven process details a precise approach to starting a child to read at each of the significant ages-from newborn to little child. A must read for parents who want to instill in their children from an early age, the joys of learning.
Rating: 
Summary: Method doesn't work
Review: I followed Doman's instructions to the T on my 14-month-old daughter and was as enthusiastic and "joyous" as humanly possible. After months of repeated attempts, I just could not get her interested. She'd rather look at a blank wall than the flash card. It's not that she isn't bright, she loves books and now at 23 months can recite many of them back to us from memory. She can count and identify shapes, colors and letters. Everything she has learned has been through playing (doing puzzles) and having fun. After many months of frustration and feeling like I failed, I have come to the conclusion that the flashcard method is too much like drilling and just isn't fun for a child. Contrary to what Doman states, it is very time-consuming because of the preparation involved and not to mention all the repeated attempts you go through just to get your child's attention. My advice would be to just focus on reading to your child using large print books and pointing to the words as you read. Forget the flashcards. Maybe if I started when my child was a newborn things would have been different but to date I have had no luck.
Rating:
Summary: Hear it from the rest of the parents..the truth and tips.
Review: I have been using what the book says, which is actually a guideline and shouldn't be followed exactly. Afterall, it does say, Mother knows the best about their own child, and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. If you are curious and want to find out more, please come and visit Child Brain Development at http://www.childbrain.org You will be among a virtual community with hundreds of parents from all around the world. I am the founder of childbrain.org, a non profit pro-bono project that I started on August 1st, 2003. I welcome you to satisfy your curiosity here.
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME PROGRAM!!!!!!
Review: I highly reccomend this program! I started it when my son was ten months old and within just a couple weeks I found he could read the words he had learned and understand them! My son also gets super excited when we erad books that have the words he has already learned in them! He loves the program and we have a great time doing it together...Glenn Doman's programs are one of the most looked forward to things we do in our day together. Of course it is not necessary to do exactly as the book says but rather just understand and apply the general idea to your particular child. My son is 11 months old now and we also read about 20 or so books per day, do the lovely math program, the physical program, foreign language, and soon the encyclopedic knowledge program and swimming. I have found that he has more interested in learning than with playing with toys or doing many other things. Just let your baby be the guide and love him no matter what!!! I also reccomend How to teach your baby to swim by Claire Timmermans!!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book! A must read!
Review: I just finished reading this book. Though I have not tried the method yet, I can tell you that my mother read this book 26 years ago, used the method and I was reading by the age of 2. So I am now in the process of using this method with my own son. It is a well written book which clearly explains an easy method that in my family at least, is tried and true :) A must read!
Rating:
Summary: Best book I read, truly inspiring
Review: I read most Dr. Doman's books after my daughter was born. I was already determined to do something with my newborn, his books definitely strengthened my believe, and gave methods to follow. I made dot cards and word cards. It was time consuming and expensive. Soon I developed software called PowerFlashCard, http://www.geocities.com/powerflashcard/ to replace paper flash cards. It was very effective. I added much more contents in math, reading, including foreign languages, and pictures into the program. There are people thinking I was crazy teaching a 3-month old. But you have to do it yourself to believe it. The time I put my daughter in front of the laptop, and she saw the flashing dots, she was waving, kicking, and screaming with joy. My whole family was amazed. My daughter is almost a year old now. She is very delightful, alert. She can point correctly to many objects, and words. Her learning speed is increasing daily. We also play music and read to her every day.
Rating:
Summary: Sight method for some, phonics for others
Review: I stumbled across this book a little over 24 years ago. I read it immediately and found a wonderful philosophy: 1) babies are learning beings; 2) learning should be fun; 3) learning should always be a reward, NEVER a punishment; 4) always stop BEFORE the child wants to; 5) mom and dad are the best teachers; 6) the whole word method is the best way to start (rather than phonics). I started when my son was 17 months old. By the time he was two he was reading Dr. Seuss and similar authors on his own. He was reading Hardy Boys BEFORE Kindergarten! He went to MIT majoring in mathematics on a full scholarship and has recently finished an MS in Computer Science at Johns Hopkins. He will go to a first tier law school next fall. This book was a GREAT start and a great book to learn about teaching. I recommend it without reservaton!
Rating:
Summary: It grows your child's brain!!!!
Review: I used the program in this book over 20 years ago to teach 5 of my 6 children to read. (My oldest son was already reading when I discovered the book.) It worked beautifully! All my children were reading well above grade level as they entered kindergarten! As an elementary teacher now, I can see that this program can help children who may not respond well to phonics learning. Whatever help we can give our children, let's do it! Those who struggle with reading, struggle with every subject, because they all require reading! I highly recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: It works!
Review: I used the program in this book over 20 years ago to teach 5 of my 6 children to read. (My oldest son was already reading when I discovered the book.) It worked beautifully! All my children were reading well above grade level as they entered kindergarten! As an elementary teacher now, I can see that this program can help children who may not respond well to phonics learning. Whatever help we can give our children, let's do it! Those who struggle with reading, struggle with every subject, because they all require reading! I highly recommend this book!
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