Want to learn more about Glenn Doman and his methods? Read the history of Glenn Doman and how the institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential (a non-profit organization providing teaching programs and books designed to improve and accelerate the mental and physical development of normal as well as brain-damaged children) lead to the discovery of early learning.
Glenn Doman is a physical therapist and a pioneer in the field of child brain development. In 1955 he founded the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential (IAHP), a non-profit organization providing teaching programs and books designed to improve and accelerate the mental and physical development of normal as well as brain-damaged children.
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The IAHP was originally set up to develop the capabilities of brain-damaged children through intense programs of mental and physical stimulation. Starting from the 1960s, the IAHP began offering courses aimed at accelerating the development of normal children. Methods taught on these courses drew on many of the techniques used to help brain-damaged children.
Doman's books include How To Teach Your Baby To Read (1964), How To Teach Your Baby Math (1979) and How To Teach Your Baby To Be Physically Superb (1988). Doman's daughter Janet (director of the IAHP) and son Douglas (vice director) have also contributed to the literature. In 2006 Janet co-authored (with Glenn) How Smart Is Your Baby? Develop And Nurture Your Newborn's Full Potential, while Douglas authored How To Teach Your Baby To Swim: From Birth To Age Six.
The IAHP's methods are based around the following core beliefs:
Every child has genius potential.
"Every child born has, at the moment of birth, a greater potential intelligence than Leonardo da Vinci ever used." - Glenn Doman
Stimulation is the key to unlocking a child's potential.
"The world has looked at brain growth and development as if they were predestined and unchangeable facts. We have discovered that brain growth and development are a single dynamic process. This is a process which can be stopped (as it is by profound brain injury). This is a process which can be slowed (as it is by moderate brain injury), but most significantly, this is a process which can be speeded." - Glenn Doman
Teaching should commence at birth.
"The first year of life is a critical time. This is the time when the brain is growing explosively. The brain literally grows by use - and if we use it, we're going to grow it. And if you don't use it, especially in the first 12 months, then you literally will lose brain cells - you won't have as much brain power as you would've had." - Janet Doman
The younger the child, the easier the learning process.
"Before the age of five a child can easily absorb tremendous amounts of information. If the child is younger than four it will be easier and more effective, before three even easier and much more effective, and before two the easiest and most effective of all." - Glenn Doman
Children naturally love to learn.
"Kids would rather learn than eat; kids would rather learn than play. In fact, kids think learning is play." - Glenn Doman
Parents are their child's best teacher.
"In your worst minute of your worst day with your child, you will be your child's best teacher - better than anyone in the whole world. On an average day or the best moment of your best day, you are absolutely spectacular - because you know your child better than anyone else. And you happen to adore your child - that's the perfect combination for a teacher." - Janet Doman
Teaching and learning should be joyous.
"Parents deserve to experience the joy that comes from teaching their baby, and babies have a right to appreciate the joy of learning with their parents." - Glenn Doman
Teaching and learning should never involve testing.
"One of the beauties of teaching a tiny child is that the process of teaching is a pure process of giving information without asking for it back again." - Janet Doman
METHOD
The Doman reading and math programs are flash card-based. Lessons are given three times per day, starting from the age of three months. The physical program involves a range of activities - from encouraging babies to crawl from birth, to developing their sense of balance, to teaching children to brachiate (traverse a horizontal ladder, also known as monkey bars). There is also a music program. Starting from birth, parents teach their baby musical appreciation, rhythm, note reading and perfect pitch. There is no book dedicated to the Doman music program, but details are available online as well as through courses given by the IAHP.