The Suzuki method follows the path we all take to learn language. Children grow up hearing their mother tongue all around them. As they grow they listen, then imitate, and finally begin to use real words. They absorb the grammar of speech without any instruction and quickly form complete sentences with few errors. In most cases learning to speak one's mother tongue has a 100% success rate.
Only after speech has been mastered is, reading is added with parental support. Parents trace the lines of text with their finger while reading to their children. They learn to recognize and write letters of the alphabet. They are given books with few words and lots of pictures.
In other words, no one gives a toddler a book and expects them to learn to read while learning to speak. Unfortunately, that is the standard method of music instruction. Children are asked to learn to hold and play their new instrument while simultaneously learning to read a new language that is both horizontal and vertical, that has "letters" hat change shape depending on where they are in a "sentence". It's no wonder that many a child (and parent) gives up after a short but intense period of frustration and tears.
The Suzuki Method
Dr. Suzuki, however, had faith in children. He knew that, given the chance to learn music in the same way they learned their own language, they could become fluent and excellent musicians with little frustration. How?
Listening comes first and is emphasized throughout learning
Good breath and tone are are a foundation for learning, not something added later
Progression happens at the child's pace, not at an arbitrarily assigned "level"
Concepts are introduced in bite-sized portions, so that there is never too much to handle
Parental Support
Parental support and involvement is essential for the child to succeed. In the Suzuki method parents...
Attend every lesson with their child
Take lesson notes for their child
Play the recordings frequently
Create and maintain a consistent practice schedule
Assist their child with practice
In short, for the first year or so, the parent will be learning the recorder along with their child and will remain a support for their child until they are old enough to attend lessons and practice on their own.