I'm pretty sure Little Math Beta testing is over. The full product has been launched already. Of course, I'm new to this forum, so that's just my take.

I actually agree with Aiysha in a way. We get in our "I want to do everything possible to help my baby" mode, and launch ourselves into whatever is fashionably thought to be helpful and educational. And later studies show that it really isn't as educational as it we thought. And then another study shows that maybe it is educational. It's all pretty soft science--always being proven and disproven.

I grew up with classical music. Chinese born parents were hypereducating their first generation offspring long before it became fashionable among the non-Chinese. I don't know that they especially liked it themselves, but they certainly played it for us.

I have more than an average appreciation for classical music. I play classical piano, or once did, proficiently enough to study at the conservatory at my school as an undergraduate. My son listens to classical music to the extent that I listen to it at home, which is not every day, even though it's my preferred music style.

However, I also really value silence. Background noise is not always a good thing, either. People criticize having the TV on in the background because it interferes with word discrimination and language development. Well, having background music also interferes with hearing speech to some degree.

People always talk about classical music as background music. I think that the more you are familiar with it, the less likely to fade into the background it is. If it is a piano concerto that I have actually played myself, it is actually more distracting to me than carrying on a conversation. I can feel my fingers playing it and my mind shaping the melody. It's only background music if you can tune it out, and then, what's the point?

So I play classical music when I want to hear it. Not because I think it is going to make my son smarter. And if I feel like silence, then--well, my son is three. We don't get silence, really, but we don't need any more to add to the cacophony either, even if it was written by geniuses.
 
Play what you enjoy. Teach your child to enjoy. Don't sweat it so much.

My son was pretty similar. As a newborn, when the books said that he was supposed to be sleeping 16 hours a day, he was only sleeping about 5! He got better, but he's never gotten as much sleep as the studies recommend. He was always hit or miss with his naps, and he hated being put down for any of them. I would say he has always gotten about 2 hours fewer hours than the recommended sleep for his age. Curiously, he slept at day care MUCH better during the 3 days a week he was there. I kept him on a strict schedule at home to mimic the daycare schedule, but he just wouldn't sleep--just cried and hollered during the whole hour he was left alone.

He gets crabby when he gets overtired, and his attention span is not the greatest, but overall, he's still a bright, happy child.

The most helpful book I read (like you, I think I tried them all) was "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child," by Marc Weissbluth, because it didn't just assume every child had the same temperment, and if you just followed this one plan, everything would be okay. It cited numerous studies by different authors, and acknowledged that some children would sleep more or less than others, and the percentage of children that fell into either category.

I've always tried to get my child to sleep more than he does, but we've had to compromise.

Hi, Anjie.

Your link takes me to the CD version of Multiplication Rock, but I assumed you meant to link the DVD version.

I haven't tried any of the interactive DVDs, which are supposed to have some sort of interactive bonus game, but the animated songs included are catchy and fun for the most part for little ones.

As a child of the 70s, I remember these songs quite well, as they were played between cartoons on Saturday mornings on ABC, but liked some more than others. I think they are helpful for learning, especially when children love to memorize lyrics.

I bought the Schoolhouse Rock 30th anniversary edition. Instead of $24 for just the Multiplication songs, you get all of the original songs (science, grammar, history also) on 1 DVD and bonus material on a second DVD for only $11.50 right now on Amazon (price just dropped a couple of weeks ago). I thought it was a huge bargain.

You can program the DVD to just play the math/science/grammar/history also, or top 10 hits, or whatever you like.

I didn't allow my child to watch any TV until he was 2, but as soon as he was old enough to crawl to the TV, he would turn it on by himself and even watch static. Then we went to China from the US when he was almost 3 and he got nonstop viewing for 9 hours of a 15 hour flight. He's been tremendously addicted since!

Everything we have in the house could be classified as educational, which is what he prefers (Leapfrog, Preschool Prep Co, Schoolhouse Rock, Scholastic Video), but I will check out the Backyardigans from the library and Bear in the Big Blue House as treats. I actually think the Backyardigans is pretty educational, as the characters are polite, have a large vocabulary, and there are multiple musical and dancing styles done well.

I let him watch about an hour daily late in the afternoon. He definitely wants more, and asks for it throughout the day. I would say his attention span for other things is pretty low, although it's hard to tell in this age group.

However, the DVDs teach him things so easily that he doesn't want to learn from me, like phonics. I tell him that C can make more than one sound, and he yells, "NO! Only K-K-Kuh sound!" But if he sees it on a video, he will believe them. Sad when your child believes a TV more than the parent!

Elizabeth--good for you, getting started right away with your learning program!

You know what really bugs me? Seeing a really fine piano in a house where no one plays. My piano professor was asked by the founder of my med school to help him pick a Steinway for his house, and he selected a really wonderful instrument for him, but the new owner didn't even play. The piano would get used at fancy parties if they hired someone to play, but it didn't get used regularly, and pianos need to be played regularly in addition to regular tunings. (Not that I have my piano tuned on time, either, but at least it gets played.)

The person who owned my house before me had a beautiful grand piano in her living room, but she didn't play either.

You bought your instrument for the right purpose--with the intent of learning and using it. Good for you!

Good for you! You are obviously a gifted teacher who chose the right career.

My 3 year old is also addicted to starfall. It's a wonderful resource.

I'm new here, but I have really enjoyed reading your posts and appreciate the time and analysis you put into everything. I hope it will be a temporary hiatus!

She is darling.

Obviously she is one bright little girl. However, Mensa accepts anyone who can score above the 98th percentile on intelligence testing, and that means 2% of our kids could qualify.

This may mean that this is just the youngest child whose parents successfully applied for Mensa on her behalf.

I'm not knocking her achievement--she and her parents deserve the accolade. But I agree that many other children here would technically qualify if tested.

If this thread were a petition, I'd sign up for this one.

The most balanced book I have read (and I have read many) is

http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Sleep-Habits-Happy-Child/dp/0345486455/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241222900&sr=8-1

by Marc Weissbluth. It is the only book I read that was mostly research-based rather than the author's anecdotal evidence, or the author's medical practice. The author is a doctor specializing in infant sleeping problems, but he does reference many other studies, where most sleep books base it on only their personal experience or a vague "Studies show" statement.

However, you don't actually say that you are having sleep problems, so perhaps I only assume that you are worried you have a problem.

Our son slept in a bassinet next to our bed for 6 weeks (and hated it--he wanted to be in our bed, preferably on my chest) before he moved upstairs to his own crib--actually liked it better, as the mattress was more comfortable.

I'm asking this because I tend to emphasize teaching to my strengths--what I feel most capable of teaching. I like reading, math, and music. I am totally hopeless as an athlete, and know embarrassingly little of world history and geography.

I notice many people on the music board investing in early piano lessons when they themselves do not play. Perhaps because they do not play and wish they had?

I notice people saying that they or a loved family member had trouble with reading, and they want to avoid the same thing with their children?

But others are self-proclaimed geeks and are proudly passing on the geek heritage to a new generation.

What motivates you to choose what to teach?

Seeing a loved one struggle with reading and writing certainly would be a strong incentive to do whatever you could to prevent the same thing from happening to your child.

It seems that a common thread I see is that people here do not take their ability to read and learn for granted. I tend to assume that my child will be fine if I don't do anything extra, and he will be that much ahead if I provide "enrichment," but the people who shared their poignant stories here remind me that learning is a gift.

Thank you for reminding me not to take it for granted.

AprylP,

How do you manage to engage the attention of a 3 year old at the piano? Do you have any special games that you play?

Purple fungi posted a picture above of the digital piano she ordered. A digital piano attempts to mimic a piano in the action of the keyboard. The keys are usually weighted so that striking them with greater force will lead to louder tones. They are usually not sensitive enough to sound differently when the touch is different--hard to explain if you don't play. They have pedals to try to mimic the real pedals.

Keyboards have a completely different feel. Each note associated with each key plays the same no matter how you touch it. And they don't feel like pianos in the least. They play more like an electric organ. You have to hold the key down to sustain the note, and it changes the way you finger if you are trying to make the melody flow without disturbing little gaps.

Keyboards have the advantage of being portable, though, so you can take it to someone's house if you need an instrument so people can sing.