Thank you AKALORI.  I really appreciate your thoroughness in your explanations!

Hi AKALORI

I'm wondering if you could shed some light...(sorry to go off topic  - but I don't yet know how to send a person to person post)...  (if anyone can enlighten me, please do so!)

I'm new at teaching reading to my son (it's only been one month).  What I'd like to know is what are you doing every day to ensure you get results?  So far, he's only clapped twice when he's seen the word "clap" and looked at my nose when he saw the word "nose".  (He's 14 months old).  I'd love to read about what you consider "a daily lesson plan."

Hi  I'm seriously thinking about getting Little Math, but how can you transfer a coupon to someone else?

Refills are great. 

That's what I do, BUT, the huge box of refills always comes with a plastic container, so, I, too, have empty plastic boxes.  I've got three just sitting there now.  I plan on making removable labels that I can clip to the sides so we can play sorting games with my son's smaller toys.  In fact, I was going to bring them outside tomorrow and we can collect "stones", "leaves" and "sticks"...he LOVES picking these things up anyway...

So...you can teach math with it, too?  I've been considering getting the Little Math program but have been on the fence with it. 

"I have been happily using the starter and volume 1 download." quoted from AKALORI

Hi, I'm still somewhat new to this site...going on two weeks   Anyway, I'm using YBCR dvds with my son.  I found this thread and I'm wondering if the downloads you're talking about are in the "freebies" or if I need Little Reader to use them.  Can you tell me where to find them?  We've just switched to the Volume 1 dvd so I'm a bit behind you. 

Thank you!

I'm from southern Manitoba...so far I think I'm the only mom who's "crazy" enough to think my baby can read  

I'd love to have you all over for tea!  Nice to have you all in my backyard!

Boy, that really stinks!  I'm so sorry that your relationship has come to what it has.  That must have been (and may well still be) a rough thing to deal with.  I hope that one day she'll see what she's missing and try to resume a relationship with you and your kids.

But, I agree, time and love are all the kids really need.

Yep...the money thing...hate it.

At Christmas my side always chooses different charities to give to - no presents are exchanged.  We've been trying for years to get his family to buy into that idea...but to no avail.

I love the idea of putting money into an educational fund, but find it hard to believe that they'd go for that...my family, yes, his, no.

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts.  I'll tell my folks about the trike tomorrow.  Hopefully, I'm just projecting and that they won't be as disturbed as I think they may be.  Sigh...

Hopefully someone out there can help me out.

Here's the situation.  My parents don't have a huge bank account, my husband's do.  His parents bring gifts EVERYtime they visit or we pop by...usually something small like a book or toy...sometimes larger.  Anyway, my folks bought my son his very first trike for his first birthday- something they were very excited about - being the ones to give him this significant "rite of passage" gift.  Very excited.  It is going to be perfect for him next year and for many years to come. 

Today, my inlaws came with a child's desk, a covered turtle sandbox/pool, and a baby trike- one that he can use this summer.  Unfortunately, my inlaws have unknowingly (I'd like to think) "one-upped" my folks...again.

Question:  What should I do?  Let my son play happily with the toy and grow his muscles & coordination or tell my in-laws that we'd like them to take the trike back?  It sounds silly to write that, but it's just that my folks always feel like the ones who get stepped on. I don't even want to tell them, but they just live down the road from us - they'll see him on it.  AAAAAHHHHHH!

I hear you!  Just Tuesday night I said to my husband "I think I'm addicted."  All I think about is when I can get back to the computer to learn more cool things!

Hi Skylark,

You asked to see a photo of my flashcards that I use with my signing video.

Unfortunately, I don't have access to the camera at the moment.  What I did was buy some white posterboard from the dollarstore (my store sells them 2/$1!!!) and I cut them into four strips (the short way).  This is plenty big enough to write words like "airplane" or other medium length words.  They're long enough to go from one side of the tv screen to the other.  When I hold them up, you can see a small bit of the picture on the screen, but the flashcard takes up most of the space.  They take up space while they're being stored and are a bit cumbersome to use but my first flashcards that I printed on half of an 8X11 were way too small to grab my son's attention.  If you buy thick enough posterboard you can use both sides for words.

I already wrote that I do word flashcards while the signing is being done, but forgot to mention that when I show YBCR I also do the signs for those words.  Who knows if this is working...we've only been at it for 3.5 weeks.  My son is not yet verbal (oh, he makes noise - and plenty of it! - but no words yet)...nor does he sign anything yet...  Anyway, I'm hoping for the best! 

I hope that my explanation of the flashcards is helpful.

Hi Skylark

In your very first message you asked about showing YBCR and signing videos at the same time.  That's what I'm doing - however, I printed out each of the signing words onto huge flashcards.  

I'm using My Baby Can Talk.  They show you the sign then multiple pictures of that item/action.  I like my son to see the action more frequently, so I sit beside the tv and say the word and do the action over and over and over...at least he gets to see it in his peripheral vision.  I put the flashcard over/above/below the changing picture several times.  I've also made my own little slider cards like YBCR for the signing words (envelope cut off at one end with the word on it, posterboard with pictures on it, and clear contact paper to help it be a little more sturdy)...they're not as pretty as YBCR but they do the trick.

I'd also like to say thank you to Psalm43one.  I have so much anxiety about doing things right.  This will be our only child and I just don't want to mess up my only chance!  (mind you, I'm sure if we had more than one child, we'd want the absolute best for each of them, anyway..."only chance" or not!!!)  Anyway, what you said calmed me down (for the moment anyway!)...I DO need to just do what I know my son connects with and follow my instincts.  I'm somewhat of a rule follower and really like having someone "hold my hand" for a while until I get my footing.  I SOOOOO appreciate BrillKids for creating this site where we can learn from and encourage each other!

When you say "walker" are you referring to those little saucer type things that the child sits in and pushes himself around by using his legs?  I believe that those are illegal in my country.  We used a little toy on wheels that he held on to and pushed.  Is that considered a "walker"?  He LOVED it!  He experienced being somewhat independent and I think that's what pushed him along a bit in the confidence area.

Our little creature started crawling just before his 11 month birthday - up until then he just sat where I put him.  I worried a bit, but frankly, it was kind of nice for me to always know where he was!  He only crawled for a month and a half and then ZOOM!!! He won't stop!  He's everywhere at every moment!  We had to put baby proofing into high gear!

Other than making the little push toy available to him, we didn't hold his hands to walk.  We sat on the floor and helped him up on his feet sometimes and, after saying "ready, set, go" we'd let go - counting in either French or English to see how long he could stand without loosing his balance.  Then when we caught him we'd have a little tickle.  He loved this "game".  He started taking a step forward when he was falling and then he basically just figured out how to take two steps, etc.  We only did this after he seemed to enjoy holding on to the couch, chairs and his little push toy.

I don't know when my neice started crawling, but she just started walking last month (17 months)...but lets just say, she's no ballerina...she's a solid little girl. I hear that factors into it, as well...(my little guy is small). But, like my son, she's quick on her feet now that she's discovered the freedom her feet can give her!

I'd just encourage you not to stress about it too much.  There will come a day when you're chasing after him in the mall or the grocery store aisle and you'll wonder why you ever worried!