Right Brain Education: How To Flash Cards To Your Baby/Toddler

Do you show each flash card slowly or fast? This question is one that many parents and educators ponder when introducing flash cards to young children. For instance, if you have a flash card depicting an "Apple," do you read out the word slowly, allowing your child to take in the image and the sound, or do you present it quickly, moving on to the next card in rapid succession?

It seems logical to show the cards slowly so that your baby can clearly see the picture and absorb the information being presented. This method allows the child to focus on the details of the image and understand the concept being introduced, potentially leading to better retention of the information.

However, this approach may not align with the techniques advocated by some of the most respected figures in early childhood education.

The early education pioneers such as Glenn Doman, along with methods like the Shichida Method and Heguru, actually recommend a different approach: they advocate for flashing the cards at a high speed. This technique is rooted in the belief that young children, particularly those in their formative years, have an innate ability to absorb information quickly and efficiently when presented in a rapid-fire manner.

Specifically, the Glenn Doman Method, which emphasizes the use of flash cards as a primary learning tool, suggests that you flash the cards as fast as you can.

The rationale behind this recommendation is that the speed of presentation captures the child's attention and stimulates their cognitive processes, allowing them to make connections more rapidly than they might when the information is presented slowly.

This method is designed to engage the child's right brain, which is thought to be more adept at processing visual information in a holistic manner.

Similarly, renowned right brain schools like Shichida and Heguru typically flash each card for about 0.5 seconds per flash card. This brief exposure time is intended to challenge the child’s ability to recognize and recall the information quickly, reinforcing their learning through rapid repetition.

The underlying philosophy of these methods is that children possess remarkable capacities for learning that can be harnessed through accelerated exposure to educational materials.

Based on the observations and teachings from these established early learning schools, we would recommend that you flash the cards at high speed. Our recommendation stems from the fact that we have not encountered any credible early learning institutions that advocate for a slow flashing technique.

The consensus among these educational pioneers is that high-speed flashing not only keeps the child engaged but also enhances their ability to absorb and retain knowledge effectively. By adopting this approach, you are likely to align with the proven methods that have been successful in fostering early cognitive development in children.

Discover the types of flash cards for your baby or toddler you can use.