Glenn Doman method
The Method Utilized: Theoretical Support
The Glenn Doman method is an innovative and provocative method of learning. In
chapter 7 of his book entitled ‘How to Teach your Baby to Read”, Glenn Doman
suggests the age at which the baby must start, which can be as early as 10 months
of age.
Doman highlights the importance of the parents’ attitudes in respect to the activity
to be developed, which must be one that this is a good game and not a job like any
other. He explains that the sessions must end prior to the child’s loss of interest.
Doman also reminds us that the material, despite being simple, must follow
specifications, once it is designed to attend to the fact that reading is a brain
function, and as such must attend to the limitations of the baby, since the brain
only has its reading function stimulated in the right way. He orients us on how to
present the words, and how to draw the letters in them.
He turns next to a description of how to develop seven steps which he considers
essential:
1. Visual differentiation (way of making the cards);
2. Proper vocabulary;
3. Vocabulary of the family environment;
4. Vocabulary to build sentence’s structure;
5. Structured phrases and sentences;
6. Reading of a real book (i.e., the first book);
7. The alphabet.
He then concludes the chapter saying that “man is man essentially because he can
read and write”.
I will present in a following article how I adapted the Glenn Doman method to my
three babies and how the activity developed into a lifetime of learning and fun!
Eliane Leao, PhD
Glenn Doman method (c) 2006
http://www.baby-can-read.com
Visit our site for a free starter Ebook on babies learning and reading
Dr. Eliane Leao is a native of Brazil, South America. She has a
background in Education from Purdue University (Masters) and a PhD in the
Department of Educational Psychology from the State University of Campinas
(UNICAMP)/Purdue University (Ph.D.). Dr. Leao has also three Bachelor’s
degrees, one in Piano, another in Musical Education, and a third in Voice. Dr.
Leao is currently a professor of Music Education and Music Therapy
conducting research on the influence of Music in Early Childhood Learning.
Her ‘babies’ have grown to become productive members of their
communities. Dr. Leao hopes that the trials and successes of her family may
inspire and convince other parents to stimulate their children during early
childhood so that they may enjoy a rich, stimulating, integrated, and happy
life always.