Hello there!
I'll be the first to admit it - when I had my first kid, I went a bit crazy buying all sorts of baby gear. I wasn't really sure what I was doing, but I wanted to give my little one the best possible start in life. I mean, who doesn't want to give their baby the best, right? From massages and baby swimming to flashcards and English lessons, I wanted to try it all. It wasn't until later that I started to calm down and realize that I didn't need to buy everything under the sun. But I think every new mom goes through this phase, don't they?
Product Details
Product type - educational aid Material - cardboard Brand - 'Wunderkind with Diapers' Country of origin - Russia Place of purchase - online store Price - 3000 rubles
Contents
The Wunderkind with Diapers chest is a big, sturdy box made of thick cardboard. Inside, you'll find a stack of cards. The box itself is really impressive, and it would make a great gift. So, what's included in the package?
320 cards, divided into 16 themes 48 cards with letters 48 cards with numbers A softcover book called 'How to Raise a Wunderkind' by Elena Bashkova A CD with stories A mini set of promotional cards The cards are divided into 18 different themes, and each theme has its own plastic file for easy organization.
Description
I have to say, this set is based on one of the most well-known early development methods out there - Glen Doman's technique. By regularly flipping through these cards, my kid picked up what was on them in no time, learned the names of objects and concepts, and then started making connections between what they saw on the cards and real-life objects.
So, working with these cards has been a game-changer for my kid's development. It's helped stimulate their brain, develop their photographic memory, improve their associative thinking, and even expand their vocabulary.
It's been amazing to see how quickly they've picked up new information and concepts. And the best part? They're having a blast while learning! The cards have been a great way to introduce new vocabulary and concepts in a fun and engaging way. My kid's been able to recognize and identify objects and concepts much faster than I expected. What's included in this big box?
Colorful cards with fun facts and pictures Alphabet cards Number cards A DVD with stories A book by E. Bashkova, 'How to Raise a Child Prodigy' With this set, it's been surprisingly easy to raise a well-rounded kid. The key? Love, care, and engaging activities under adult supervision.
How we do it
Following the manufacturer's instructions and Glen Doman's original method, we started with the first theme and pulled out 5 cards. Our kid was 4 months old, and we chose the 'Household Pets' theme. I held the stack at arm's length (about 30-40cm) and showed each card for 1-2 seconds, saying the word out loud. For example, 'CAT,' wait a sec, 'DOG,' next card, and so on. We'd do this 3-4 times a day, and it only took around 10 seconds max.
As we went along, I added new cards and eventually got up to 10. We also introduced new themes, but not more than 2-3 at a time, and we'd do each one 3-4 times a day. When we'd finished a theme, we'd put it aside and move on to a new one. By the time our kid turned 1, we'd gone through 7-8 themes in total.
My kid was totally engaged and enthusiastic about looking at the cards, so we ended up doing a lot and having a great time. It was hilarious to see him make a cautious face when he saw a lion, wolf, or other predator, but then light up with a smile when he saw a hamster, hedgehog, or rabbit. We even took a hamster and a hedgehog to the photo shoot at 6 months, warned the photographer, and showed them next to the camera. He was delighted by the animals and we got some amazing photos.
When my kid turned a year old, he stopped playing by my rules and lost interest in looking at the cards. Instead, he'd try to grab the card in his hand, get bored after a few seconds, and just spin the card around. I was right next to him, but he'd sometimes manage to bend or damage the card. I realized we didn't need that kind of activity anymore and hid the box.
As my kid approached 2 years old, after he'd gone through the teething phase and become more emotionally stable, I brought out the box again. But this time, I mixed things up a bit.
First, I left a single theme out for quick shows a few times a day and chose something more complex, like musical instruments.
I also picked around 10 cards from another theme and let my kid look at them for as long as he wanted. I'd point out each card and highlight some features. Then, I'd take them away.
When we're studying a particular theme in-depth, I lay the cards out on the floor and ask my kid to show me something, like 'where's the drum?' or 'where's the guitar?'
Here are some game ideas for bigger kids:
We created a few cards, like birds, and added one of fish, asking what's extra? "Transport" first we disassemble, then gradually start asking what rides, what floats, what flies "Fruits", "Vegetables", "Berries" we mix and sort "Fruits", "Vegetables", "Berries" sorting by color "Household Pets" sound imitation games "Nature" we draw In all, there are plenty of game options, plus of course, we learn from the information on the back.
Our impressions
As for the print quality or materials, I have no questions at all, everything is just perfect.
However, I do think the cost is a bit steep - 3000 rubles for a stack of cardboard is expensive. I'm deducting a star for that.
We've been using the cards for over a year, and a bit beyond two years, following Glenn Domans' rules. However, the method was initially designed for kids with special needs, and for a regular child, you need to distract them from their busy activities to show the cards.
Don't get me wrong, the cards are amazing - they have facts, tasks, and puzzles on the back. But kids get bored looking at cards all the time, it's like eating the same old oatmeal every day. You'll eventually need other resources and activities that will replace the cards.
There are five remaining topics we haven't covered yet: Trees 3 months+, Counting 3 months+, Letters 6 months+, Addition 3+, and Professions 3+.
I'm still confused about 'Counting' - 3 months+? I couldn't think of a single way to use them, so they're collecting dust.
'Trees' didn't quite click with me - the pictures are all the same. I'd rather swap it out for seasons or something else. Maybe we'll use these cards in school one day.
The 'Addition' cards are double-sided, with answers on one side and none on the other. We haven't used them yet, but maybe they'll come in handy in a couple of years.
'Professions' is a great topic - I think we'll open it up soon.
What really got under my skin was the booklet that came with the product. Every topic had a quote from Glenn Doman in italics, saying 'It's easier to give an encyclopedia's worth of knowledge to a one-year-old than a seven-year-old.' I took this as a sneaky and aggressive form of marketing that's just going to add fuel to the fire for already anxious parents. It's like, come on, you've been a parent for a year now, and you still can't get your kid to use the potty? With conscious parents in today's world already having heightened anxiety about their kid's future, I think we don't need to add to that with phrases like these that have a hidden agenda.
Our Progress
I won't deny that it's hard to gauge the effectiveness of these flashcards, but I'm a firm believer in spending quality time with your kid. Whether it's these flashcards or something else, that's up to the parent to decide. I don't agree with the idea that showing a kid a picture of a bear 100 times is better than taking them to the zoo once. Why not do both? We've been using a variety of games to help our son develop holistically, and I've noticed some great progress:
He's got a great sense of direction, can remember routes, and knows lots of playgrounds and how to get to them (clearly a boost to his photographic memory) He's picked up numbers up to 10 with ease He's learned the Russian and English alphabets without us forcing him to (we just sang songs with them) When asked, he can remember where he put his toys (he's got a million of them) He's got a decent vocabulary But! At three years old, it's normal for kids not to be able to hold a conversation in the way we understand it. They might say a few words or short sentences, but it's not a real conversation.
Our Takeaways
I think it's great that any quality time spent with your kid is beneficial. If you're not into the latest trends, and you enjoy spending time with your kid, you can easily come up with new activities and exercises. In that case, the Wunderkind with Diapers megachest would be a great investment in your child's future.
Wishing you all the best and success in your child's development!