Agreed. I have been a “room mom” for many, many years. I was amazed (and saddened if truth be told) that some kids entered kindergarten NOT knowing their colors, basic shapes, or letters. The parents “assumed” the school would do it. They probably didn’t realize (or care) that the kids were already behind.
The Hooked on Phonics worked for us but I didn’t start it till they were around 4. I never used the CD”s/tapes but only the flash cards (initially) and the workbooks. I think the major point with kids (IMHO) is the interaction. For example, “What color is that sign? What letter is that? The plate is a circle and the table is a rectangle” Easy, peasy stuff and they soak it up like sponges. Each child is different but I never liked the see and say. I would “cringe” when the kids wouldn’t have their spelling corrected in kindergarten and first grade (leftover residue from Sister Mary Katherine.. I believe).
It’s difficult for me to comprehend how detached some parents are from their own kids.
Fundamentally, I don’t get it.
All the books and parenting classes and public schools and media have seemed to provide very self-centered parents an excuse for doing something that should come naturally.
My girl is in college and she still sends me her papers to edit/review. Papers that are deep in the weeds of public policy, terrorism etc, by prof’s take are admitted Socialist’s and even Communists.
Thankfully, she’s a hard core conservative that is extraordinarily objective.
I think she got that from me.