This is the best thing I've read all month http://www.unschoolingnyc.com/2013/04/25/the-early-walking-curriculum-a-tragi-parody/
Not all children learn to "walk" without help. I've seen many children who had language delays as young children and the parents decided to wait. Language is the basis for reading and these kids who started getting help later on ended up needing help for a longer period of time. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to education.
Agreed. Also, I realize this is supposed to be making fun of early reading programs, but it's doing so at the expense of kids who actually DID need help learning to walk. My son didn't walk until 13 months, and only because he'd been in therapy since he was born. He walked with a limp until he was 2 and didn't run until he was 4. Yes, it's not the point of the post, but I found the author's tone offensive nonetheless. I've strived from day one to make sure my kids know they're no different from anyone else. There will always be someone in the world who is stronger, faster, or smarter, but there will always be someone who isn't as well. Both of my kids taught themselves to read well before they turned 2. Does that make them better than an equally smart child who has no access to books and/or no interest in books until they're 7? No.
Well, I thought it was funny. I got the point, and I don't feel like it was making a point "at the expense" of kids who need help. Ya'll, it was just a parody. I had one that didn't walk till 15 months. I'm not offended that they used this particular skill to make a point about early reading. Do ya'll remember the parody about the Nutrition experts who didn't want parents to Homefeed? Its the same thing, its just funny. No reason to get upset.
Sorry if you found it offensive, I certainly didn't mean it to be, and I don't think the author did either. The point is kids learn naturally, the majority learn to walk and talk without special help from any doctor, program, therapist or specialist. And the majority could also learn, to read, (and learn about science, math and everything else...) naturally too... I immediately thought of the 'home feeding parody' when I read this too. I thought it was great parody because most people I know think all babies should walk by their first birthday. But, in reality, the normal range for babies learning to walk is 9 months-18 months. I remember friends and family being very 'concerned' because my oldest didn't walk until 14 months. He hit every developmental milestone on time his first year so I wasn't at all concern. There is also an old wives tale that babies that walk sooner are smarter than babies that walk later. So I think this was a great area to parody. Because public school thinks we can raise our international test scores by starting kids in school younger and younger. And it just isn't proven to be true at all. My parents didn't go to Kindergarten, I didn't have to go to PreK, now we have 3 year olds in head start programs. Again, sorry if you found it offensive, having special needs people I am very close to (2 with CP and 2 mentally challenged) and love dearly, it is never my intent to offend people based on their ability, mental or physical.
I see the point of the article. I just feel there should be caution in this area. Most kids do fine learning on their own timeline. However, in the group of late whatevers there will be some that will need that extra help. Waiting to provide that extra help until it is extremely obvious that there is a problem that the child won't outgrow, makes the mountain the child has to climb so much higher. I've seen it many times. How would a parent know if their child was one of those who would learn without help from a professional of some sort?
We help those who are late, not try to make everyone early. This is true of all developmental milestones. As with walking, if a child does not meet the milestones for reading in a normal range of time, they are given help. Mine walked and talked late. By some standards they read late also. However once they started all of these they excelled almost immediately. Different kids have different schedules even within the range of normal and some need help. That is what mommies are for.
"What parent wants to risk their child’s future by allowing them to learn to walk on their own?" :lol::lol::lol::lol: I love it!
