My son has grown up in a house of readers and loves to read. He consistently tests above grade level, doesn't have his own computer (allowed to use my wife's occasionally) or TV (only one working TV in the house). Meanwhile, his friend down the street who is a year older and has his own laptop computer, TV, XBox, Nintendo DS, etc. spends his summers in remedial reading classes.
Growing up in a house of readers undoubtedly gave me a massive head start on all of my peers, but I also had my own laptop [1], TV, N64 (it was the 90's), and gameboy and did far above my grade level on reading tests.
If you feel good about not letting your kid mess with that stuff, more power to you, but don't confuse correlation with causation.
[1] Actually I had my first computer, running MS-DOS, well before I could read. That was kind of an exercise in futility though. I did get a laptop later on (elementary school) and I learned and practiced writing HTML on it.
I don't think he intended to imply a correlation. But people do seem to use video games and television as a crutch to keep kids entertained at the expense of more enriching activities.
I think it all depends on if the kid is happy with occasional computer and TV use. Personally I think I would give my kid easy access to the electronic devices they want. If they want to do a lot of reading that's great and certainly encouraging, but there are more paths to achieve similar intellectual curiosity than just reading, computers in general, programming, games, certain TV shows, movies and documentaries.
My first computer access was to a DOS machine. I don't think it had any effect on my reading skills, since at the time I didn't actually speak English.
Read to him when he is young, with him when older. It is the most stupidly effective academic intervention I'm aware of.
Actually evidence suggests that this is not true. Energy spent reading to kids helps a bit, but what makes a long-term difference is to be seen frequently reading for yourself. Otherwise you wind up in the trap that the kid learns that reading is for babies.
You are right that that is how you get a child to like reading when they are older but reading to them and with them is also a great way for them to learn especially since they are interacting with a parent, while picking up language cues and other such things.
Encourage a love of books, even if its just the picture books to begin with. Story before bedtime. Feel sad? Lets go read a book? Waiting for mom or dad to come home? Lets read a fun book.
Aside from that I do those large jig-saw puzzles with my daughter and those match the wooden shape to its equivalent spot on the board.
It should all be fun, playful and something you you're happy to do. No one wants to read with a grumpy dad.
It's funny, because that one of the "obvious" things to try that instead shows no correlation with academic performance. At least that's what it's said in "Freakonomics".
Anyway, I'm doing it with my two years and half son. He loves it and helps him to relax and rest(he's very active).
Agreed. Also, you can start on non-picture books earlier than you think; my dad read "The Hobbit" to my sister and I before I started kindergarten (a little bit each night).
I know that mine did. I used to say "Hi Baby!" to her all the time. When she was born and was upset I would say "Hi Baby!" and she'd calm right down. This worked for 2-3 weeks maybe.
My 3 month old daughter knew my voice, but didn't recognize my face when I shaved my beard. She would turn to see me when she heard my voice, but cry when she saw a stranger.
My second daughter easily recognizes her older sister voice at birth. My older one spoke to her constantly in the womb (usually asking her when she is going to come out and play with her). The best way to stop her crying is to ask my oldest daughter to sing to her (works better than my singing/soothing)
My mother says the same about me. She used to listen to a particular song when she was pregnant with me. After I was born, whenever my dad played that song, I would search for the source.
My son has grown up in a house of readers and loves to read. He consistently tests above grade level, doesn't have his own computer (allowed to use my wife's occasionally) or TV (only one working TV in the house). Meanwhile, his friend down the street who is a year older and has his own laptop computer, TV, XBox, Nintendo DS, etc. spends his summers in remedial reading classes.