Letting Go of Flash Cards and Letter of the Week

An article for parents on the NAEYC website discusses misunderstandings some families have that flash cards will help their toddlers learn to read better:

"Sam recently bought alphabet flash cards because he wants his 18-month-old daughter Abby to learn to read. But are flash cards and other learning toys that emphasize memorization a good way to prepare a toddler for reading?  

"Parents see many advertisements promising that their child can become the next Einstein with the right combination of learning toys and DVDs. It’s easy for parents to get caught up in the hype that new, better products make smarter children. And because so many of these products emphasize memorization, it can sometimes cause families to think that a focus on memorization is what’s important.  

"In fact, using flash cards is not an effective way to help toddlers build language and literacy skills."

In her inspiring new book, The Whole Child Alphabet, Stacy Benge describes some misconceptions that early care and education professionals also have about reading instruction. She describes what she offers to early educators to replace "an overemphasis on alphabet instruction; specifically letter of the week…

"I started presenting a training that explains the solid base that needs to be developed before children can even attempt reading and writing…I break down the skills needed for alphabet knowledge, including children’s ability to:

• understand the purpose of the alphabet (genuine interest and print awareness)
• identify individual letters (visual perception)
• assign sounds to those letters (phonological awareness and auditory sense)
• eventually write the letters (physical development and proper letter formation)

"I emphasize the importance of designing an environment that encourages child-led play to enhance and strengthen these developmental skills."

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