The absence of pictures is a careful pedagogical and philosophical choice. The choice is pedagogical because the mechanisms by which reading is acquired do not rely on visual processing. Most reading difficulties stem from deficits in vocal processing and the exercises that correct them can be performed with eyes closed.
The philosophical aspect is that Pictures Are For Babies respects learners. It does not rely on gamification or motivation hacks to keep students engaged. Instead, it fosters the conditions under which deliberate practice thrives. Literacy is treated as a skill with intrinsic value that is worth focused and sustained effort.
To read more about the reasons for this decision, please read the no pictures section.
There are two options for accessing Pictures Are For Babies. A one-time payment of $1000 grants you a lifetime license and all future updates to the software and course contents. A $20/month subscription provides full access to all content and updates for the duration of the subscription.
No other program offers a truly comprehensive path to full literacy mastery. Some programs cover early reading skills. Others provide isolated writing instruction. But none combine a complete curriculum, a mastery-based practice engine, and full alignment with the science of reading, writing, expert performance, and optimal learning.
Even if a comparable curriculum existed, without a sophisticated practice engine like the one powering Pictures Are For Babies, it would fall on teachers and tutors to schedule and manage student progress manually. Without such a tool, the effectiveness and scalability of any such program would be severely limited.
The pedagogy section contains a detailed comparison of Pictures Are For Babies with existing programs. While some get parts right, none match its depth, breadth, and integration of the full body of research.
The "Whole Word" approach to reading instruction has been thoroughly discredited by decades of scientific research. The process by which students learn to recognize previously unfamiliar words and turn them into instantly recognizable words is called orthographic mapping.
Teaching phonics is not enough to develop orthographic mapping. Programs solely focused on phonics build early word reading skills but often fail to develop them at the level of automaticity required for developing orthographic mapping. Once students encounter more complex texts, they struggle to read fluently and can stagnate.
Pictures Are For Babies teaches word-level reading and spelling by aligning with the principles followed by the most successful reading interventions. Those interventions have shown that 90 to 95 percent of children can learn to read at grade level with proper instruction focused on the correct foundational skills that support orthographic mapping.
Currently, only English is planned. However, the approach should work for every language. Depending on how well the English version does, other languages might be added. Proving that Pictures Are For Babies can develop mastery of literacy in more complex languages like Chinese would be a landmark achievement for the program.
The initial release will target desktop platforms (Windows, Mac, and Linux). A tutor is responsible for operating the software, so it's not necessary or advisable for the software to be installed in the student's tablet or personal computer. Depending on demand, mobile versions might be added. However, due to increased costs associated with distributing software in the Apple and Google ecosystems, the cost might be higher.