Baby's First Words DVD is the first video in a set of four which is designed to teach babies, ages 3 months to 2 years, to read in about 30 minutes per day. Familiar words are introduced such as bottle, mommy and daddy, as well as words describing body parts, such as arm and nose. The Baby's First Words video helps a child to read and identify their first 40 words. Cute songs, adorable puppets and children having fun make the video interesting. Flash cards are also available to purchase separately that go along with the words being taught in the video.

Young children have the ability to learn more than we as parents actually can believe is possible. During the first five years of a child's life, their brains are amazingly active, gathering and storing information like never again during their life. According to the experts, brain development actually slows down after the age of five, so why not take advantage of the young child's capacity to gain knowledge so easily? Using the Baby's First Words video is a great way to expose your child to the world of language. Just watch the silly puppet shows and the large words on the screen once per day; it's that simple! Using the flash cards (if you purchase them separately) can really help to make an impact on how fast your baby can begin reading.

As a homeschooling parent, we gave up television many years ago, but still use a TV/DVD combo for educational purposes. This video was great to pop in for 30 minutes while the older children were doing another activity such as math, as it held my toddler's interest. The silly puppet shows were a hit and he even asked to watch "the monkey video" if I forgot to put it in. It is best to be consistent by letting the child watch the video daily, however even if the child sees the video sporadically they will benefit in a positive way. Not only was he learning to read, but now he can identify a lot more body parts than before!

At first I wondered how a child could ever learn to read from watching the video, because the words flashed up for such a short time. Then I went to the website and read the FAQ section. I discovered that for babies to learn to read, the words must be presented very quickly and printed in a large red font. I also found out that the words must be spoken clearly in a slightly higher pitched voice. The fourth factor in helping a child learn to read is to present the words often; this part is up to the parent! The video also has a slideshow section where you can just review the words quickly.

I had been looking for an education video that would help my toddler learn to read early because he loves books. When I received the Monki See Monki Doo video, I couldn't wait to watch it together. I have tried other videos that claim to teach a baby to read, but this is the only one that actually held his interest for more than a few minutes. We will definitely be purchasing the rest of the series. I confess, for me to watch the video is almost as bad as watching a football game, but I endured it for the sake of my child, he loves it! Well, isn't that what being a parent is all about? Doing the things that your child loves, not because you love doing it, but because you love your child!

Teaching a baby to read provides brain stimulation, boosts their IQ, gives them a head start in life, strengthens the bond between parent and child, and is easy and fun to do! So even if you were not planning to start teaching your baby to read there are lots of reasons to get this video for your child. Using the Baby's First Words video from Monki See Monki Do makes helping you reach your child's potential easier. The company website, www.monkisee.com, has a wealth of information that will help you decide if this method of learning will benefit your child, a very informative FAQ section and a great list of resources you can use to further your child's potential.

Product Review by Rebecca Huff, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, December, 2008