Are you one of those parents who has been focusing lately on baby Einstein videos? I am not judging anyone. Everyone wants to be known as the father or mother of their genius babies. It is a hidden wish, though some might say they don’t want to put any pressure on their kids, but if their baby is one of the genius babies, who would mind it?
We are now in a kind of world where every child is intelligent. And how you may ask? It is not a phenomenon that has occurred with the kids of the new millennium. The simple reason is the awareness that the parents now have. How many of the older generation parents remember lugging their kids around from one class to another to hone their passion. A very few!
But, today people are aware and for kids and teenagers, the world is a tough place – a very competitive place. So, many parents are now moving towards teaching their children way ahead of times than that are suggested by child psychologists. They want their kids to win and that cannot be compromised. Winning is good, especially good for the parents ego, but what is it doing to the child?
What does research have to say about babies who can read flash cards at a really young age? So a study conducted by Atlantic concluded with an affirmation that babies did not learn to read. But, then what about the video I saw of a baby miming each word as soon as a flash card was raised? The research says that it is just wishful thinking of parents who believe that the baby is reading.
How does the child’s brain function then when they read a words flashed in front of them? This is what doctors call visual memory. When kids are reading Apple when a flashcard is presented to them. They are not actually pronouncing it understanding that the alphabets are creating that word, but rather the pictorial depiction of the word Apple in front of them.
Does this mean you should stop if your kids can read? No, not at all. The reason for this article is the pressure that some moms feel for their kids to supersede every other kid around. And, trust me when I say I have done it too, subconsciously, but it did happen to me too. We are raised in a competitive world and competition is good, obsession isn’t.
If your kids are frowning and doing any activity half-heartedly, stop it right there. That is where your obsession needs to end. I am trying to control my obsession to make my daughter talk early. So, every word she says is a joyous moment for me now, and not just giving an expression that says “she-spoke-it-way-later-than-my-nephew”.
Kids are special and they are kids for such a small time. Let them be and grow at their own space. What is your take on this fad?
