why reading is important for babies and toddlers
Sharing stories, talking and singing every day helps your child’s development in many ways.
reading and sharing stories can:
You are reading: Why are books important for a child’s development
- Help your child learn about sounds, words and language, and develop early literacy skills
- Learn to value books and stories
- Wake up your child’s imagination and stimulate curiosity
- help your child develop brain, focus ability, concentration, social skills and communication skills
- help your child learn the difference between “real” and “imagined”</li
- help your child understand new or frightening events, and the strong emotions that accompany them
- help your child understand learn about the world, their own culture and other cultures.
Sharing stories with your child doesn’t mean you have to read from the book.
Just by looking at books with your child and talking about them, you can be a great storyteller and a good role model for using language and books. your child will learn by watching him hold a book the right way and seeing how he moves through the book by smoothly turning the pages.
Reading stories to children also has benefits for adults. the special time you spend reading together promotes bonding and helps build your relationship with your child.
You can start reading aloud to your baby as soon as you want, the sooner the better. your baby will love being in her arms, listening to her voice, listening to rhymes and rhythms, and looking at pictures.
storytelling and songs
Reading isn’t the only way to help with your child’s language and literacy development.
Telling stories, singing songs, and saying rhymes together are also great activities for early literacy skills, and your child is likely to have a lot of fun at the same time. sometimes your child may enjoy these activities more than reading.
Maybe you and your child want to make up your own stories or share family stories. Your child will learn words and build language skills from the songs, stories, and conversations you share together.
read to your child in other languages
You can read, sing, and tell stories with your child in the language you feel most comfortable speaking.
Using a language you feel comfortable with helps you communicate more easily. It also helps make reading, singing, and storytelling more fun for you and your child. Your child will continue to learn that words are made up of different letters, syllables, and sounds, and that words often go together with pictures on the page.
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Don’t worry if English isn’t your child’s first language. Being bilingual actually helps your child learn English when they start playgroup, kindergarten, or school.
Dual language books are a great resource and many children’s books are published in two languages. If you speak a language other than English at home, reading books in two languages with your child might also help them become more familiar with English.
Another option is to read a book aloud in English or listen to an audiobook in English and then discuss the story with your child in a language that is most comfortable for you.
If you want, you can talk about the pictures in the book instead of reading the words. could you and your child make up a story together? do what you can and as much as you feel comfortable.
when to read, sing and tell stories with your child
bedtime, bath time, bath time, on the train, on the bus, in the car, in the park, in the stroller, in the crib, when you’re in the waiting room of the GP… any time is a good time for a story! you can make books part of your daily routine: take them with you to share and enjoy them everywhere.
Knowing when to stop can be just as important as finding the time to share a story in the first place. pay attention to your child’s reaction to the story and stop if your child is not enjoying it this time. you can always try a book, song, or story later.
If you don’t have a book or can’t make up a story right away, don’t worry. There are lots of other ways you and your child can share letters, words, and photos. for example, you can query:
- packaging at home or in the supermarket, especially food packaging
- clothing – what does it say on the t-shirt? what color is it?
- letters and notes – what do they say? who sent them?
- signs in stores, or on buses and trains – point out signs that have the same letters as your child’s name
- menus – can be fun for older children to look at the menus and find out what they want to eat.
you can see our narrative videos. let narrator anne e. stewart introduces you and your child to ‘mook mook the owl,’ ‘the crocodile,’ and ‘the old lady and the mosquito.
tips for sharing books with babies and toddlers
- Make a routine and try to share at least one book every day. a reading chair that you both feel comfortable in can become part of your reading routine.
- turn off the TV or radio, put your phone on silent, and find a quiet place to read so your child can hear your voice.
- hold your child close to or on your lap while you read, so your child can see your face and the book.
- try fun noises and sounds: play and have fun!
- engage your child by encouraging him to talk about the pictures and repeating familiar words and phrases.
- let your child choose the books when he is old enough to start ask, and get ready to read your toddler’s favorite books over and over again!
If you have older children, you can share books with your younger children, or you can all read together. taking turns, asking questions, and listening to answers are all important skills that will help children as they begin to learn to read.
Just reading for a few minutes at a time is good, you don’t always have to finish the book. as children get older, they can usually listen longer.
what kind of books to read with your child
As a general rule, young children tend to enjoy books, songs, and stories that have good rhyme, rhythm, and repetition. in fact, one of the ways children learn is through repetition and rhyme.
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Choose books that are the right length for your child and match your child’s changing interests.
For a guide to what might be right for your child, you can refer to the following articles:
- reading with babies from birth
- reading with babies from 12 months
- reading with toddlers
- reading with preschoolers .
You can also vary the books and print materials you read. Picture books, e-books, magazines, instruction manuals, TV guides, and letters can all be interesting and engaging for your child.
If you’re interested in e-books, look for ones that don’t have distracting games or animations. And it’s important to enjoy e-books with your child, rather than leaving them alone with a device.
If you want to try new books or magazines without much cost, you can organize book swaps with friends or with other parents in your parenting group or early childhood center.
using your local library
Libraries have a lot to offer. knowing your local library can be part of learning about and loving books.
You can borrow great children’s books for free at your local library. This means you can have plenty of books in your home for your child to explore, and it won’t cost you a dime.
Taking your child to the library and letting them choose their own books can be a fun adventure. you can talk and plan your trip to the library with your child and get excited together. you could ask your child, for example:
- How many books will you choose?
- How many books can you find by your favorite author?
- Will you borrow books that have animals in them?
- do you have a favorite book you’d like to borrow again?
- how many days will it be before we go back to the library?
Libraries also offer story hours and activities for young children. attending these sessions is a way to help your child become familiar with the library, have fun and enjoy the books and stories. some libraries offer these sessions online.
Libraries often have audiobooks, books in two languages, e-books, and magazines. you can listen to audiobooks in the car or as a family at home.
Simply contact your local library for more information.
See Also: Maggie Stiefvater – Book Series In Order