"Your Baby Can Read"

On a recent drive to work, I was listening to a pop station on the radio. During a commercial brake, an ad for a product called "Your Baby Can Read" was played. At first, the product seemed useful—teaching your child to read young so they develop the skill quickly and early so they progress through school in the same manner. As the commercial progressed though I became steadily more appalled and ended up being rather sad.

What hit me the most in this ad was the testimonial where a mother was asked "did you have to do anything?" and she responded, "no! I didn't have to do a thing!" As if parents needed another thing to separate them from their children. My mind doesn't grasp the concept of neglect. Perhaps "neglect" is to strong a word... but in a way it isn't. I don't understand parents who don't give their children attention. I don't understand how you can bring a child into the world and NOT give it every waking moment of your attention. Though I don't readily admit to liking kids (because I don't really want to end up babysitting...), every time I see a child my heart flutters and I am happy. Watching a child learn is, to me, one of the most amazing things you can ever see. As it relates to learning to read, watching a machine teach a child to read seems like a travesty.

On a more personal note, I realize and have accepted the fact that I will probably never have natural blood-related children. It's even a stretch to hope to ever have children at all. This is saddening all in its own. But then, the fact that so many parents have children and don't treat them the way they should or give them the attention they deserve just makes it worse.

Another commercial I heard a few years ago advertised a book of 60 second bedtime stories. What? What kind of parent can only spare 60 seconds of their precious night time to read to their child? Why read at all?

I just felt I should share my feelings on this type of product. In my opinion, anything that uses less time with your child as a way to sell itself is sick and wrong. As I said earlier: I can't imagine ever having a child and not giving it every ounce of my love and attention. If you want to teach your child to read, read to them. Anything and everything. Just read.