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SALT LAKE CITY — Many of you have probably seen those TV ads for the “Your Baby Can Read” system that boasts the ability to teach babies to read earlier and better.
If you’re like me, you’ve probably wondered how much of these commercials showing infants reading flashcards is just clever editing and memorization as opposed to actual reading.
Well, a consumer watchdog group says the ads are not only false and misleading, but pose a health risk to infants by encouraging a daily DVD regime. The group, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, has taken its argument to the Federal Trade Commission, saying “Your Baby Can Read” uses deceptive marketing and does not actually teach infants to read. The group says the extraordinary results seen in the commercials are mere memorization that any child could master.
I’ve actually known kids who have used the “Your Baby Can Read” program. One little boy in particular used to sit behind us in church reading his flashcards when he was younger than 2 years old. I seriously thought he was a genius and that my daughter was a dud in comparison.
At one point, I even considered buying some of those cards until I found out they cost $200 for the entire set. I get really sick of products that exploit parents’ desires to have their children excel. Yes, every mom wants her kid to be a baby genius, and many parents will pay any price for these promises — and company executives know it.
I’m not saying “Your Baby Can Read” is a malicious scam, but I am glad that someone is looking into its claims. Then maybe those of us whose children aren’t reading Shakespeare by age 3 can breathe a sigh of relief.
What do you think of the “Your Baby Can Read” program? Are there other products like this that you either love or hate?
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Erin Stewart is a regular blogger for Deseret News. From stretch marks to the latest news for moms, Stewart discusses it all while her 4-year-old daughter crams Mr. Potato Head pieces in her little sister's nose.
