We have all seen the recent flurry of news reports featuring a baby under the age of two who can read. The media may have treated this as a singular event, but I can assure you that thousands of babies as young as nine months of age can not only read, they can actually comprehend what they are reading. More to the point, it is perfectly natural for them to read while they are learning to talk.

I have been teaching babies and toddlers–both in the U.S. and abroad–to read for over a decade. My research has shown that the natural window to learning language and reading skills starts to close by the age of four; yet, we currently wait until age five or older to begin formal reading instruction. In a time when literacy is critical for all children, both in school and throughout their lives, I believe it is essential that we take advantage of this natural early learning window.

Just as it is easier for babies to learn other aspects of language at a young age, such as speaking and signing, it is also easier for them to learn written language. This is because the brain develops faster during infancy than later in life. During this period, the brain can adapt more easily and develop a higher level of skills.

Reading is one of the most important skill sets a child will acquire. Studies show that the earlier a child learns to read, the better she reads and performs in school. She will also have a higher level of self esteem, and is more likely to stay in school than children with lower reading skills.

Parents who have used my teachings and taken advantage of this early learning curve have witnessed extraordinary results. This is even true in my own household: I started teaching my daughter Aleka to read at the age of three months. By the age of four, she had the phonetic ability of the average 12th grader. My younger daughter Keelin also learned to read as a baby. They are now sixteen and thirteen years of age, and I look forward to sharing their successes in more detail in another posting. The techniques I utilized with Aleka and Keelin, and parents worldwide, are available to anyone through the early learning DVD system I designed called Your Baby Can Read!

It is clear that the best time, and the most natural time, to teach language skills is during infancy. Knowing this, I believe we should not withhold written language from babies and toddlers. Soon, it will be considered quite normal to see a baby reading in the home or on the national news–all the better for them and the society they will one day help to shape. –Dr. Robert C. Titzer