Building a Love of Reading

Many parents realize the importance of reading to their children from an early age, but when it comes to sharing books with babies, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Fortunately, the plans to make things a little easier by introducing our first-ever Baby Story Time next month. In honor of the big event, we’d like to share a few tips on reading to babies.

Babies make a natural audience for reading aloud. They love to snuggle in a caregiver’s lap and delight in the sound of a loved one’s voice. Reading to babies exposes them to new vocabulary as well as the rhythm of language, and instills in them a positive association with reading.  

That said, it can be challenging to find the right books for your little listener. Traditional picture books are often too long and too fragile for busy babies, who want to explore not only with eyes and ears, but also hands and mouths. Here are a few suggestions for selecting books your baby will enjoy:

• Choose board books, which are sturdy enough for babies to grasp and even chew.

• Offer your child a variety of formats, such as lift-the-flap and touch-and-feel books, to capture your baby’s interest.

• Look for books with simple, uncluttered pictures, bright colors, and just a few words per page.

• Choose books that show familiar objects and events, like people, toys and animals, or mealtime, bath time and bedtime.

Once you’ve selected the right books, there are some other steps you can take to set the stage for reading success. Try these tips when reading to your baby:

• Introduce books at different times throughout the day when your child is calm and relaxed, such as before naptime or bedtime, or after a bath. If your child is very active, try again another time.

• Point to pictures of familiar objects and say their names. As your child develops, she will begin to recognize these things.  Ask your child, “Where is the dog?” and let her point to the picture. When your child begins to talk, try pointing to the objects and asking her to say their names. You may be surprised by the words your baby knows.

• Let your baby help hold the book and turn the pages, even if it’s not the right time in the story, or even the right direction.  Your curious baby is developing an interest in books and exploring how they work. 

• Don’t be concerned if your baby wants to read the same book over and over. Babies love repetition and things that are familiar, and he is gaining from the reading experience each and every time!

• Extend your child’s love of words and print by singing songs, reciting nursery rhymes, and playing with alphabet toys, such as magnets and puzzles.

Remember that the goal is not to teach your baby how to read, but rather to help her develop a love of reading that will hopefully last a lifetime.