Jacob loves books. His mom knows this because when she sits down
to read to him every night, he waves his arms excitedly.
His favorite page of "Goodnight Moon" shows a cow
jumping over the moon. He squeals and reaches for the book every
time he sees it. When she is done reading, his mom usually lets him
hold the sturdy board book, which he promptly sticks into his
mouth.
Jacob is only 6 months old, but he is already well on his way to
becoming a reader.
Why Read to My Baby?
You may wonder about the benefits of reading to your baby.
Clearly an infant can't understand what you're doing or
why. But you wouldn't wait until your child could understand
what you were saying before you started speaking to him or her,
right? And you wouldn't bypass lullabies until your baby could
carry a tune or wait until he or she could shake a rattle before
you offered any toys.
Reading aloud to your baby is a wonderful shared activity you
can continue for years to come - and it's an important form of
stimulation.
Reading aloud:
- teaches a baby about communication
- introduces concepts such as numbers, letters, colors, and
shapes in a fun way
- builds listening, memory, and vocabulary skills
- gives babies information about the world around them
Believe it or not, by the time babies reach their first birthday
they will have learned all the sounds needed to speak their native
language. The more stories you read aloud, the more words your
child will be exposed to and the better he or she will be able to
talk. Hearing words helps to imprint them on a baby's brain.
Kids whose parents frequently talk/read to them know more words by
age 2 than children who have not been read to. And kids who are
read to during their early years are more likely to learn to read
at the right time.
When reading, your child hears you using many different emotions
and expressive sounds, which fosters social and emotional
development. Reading also invites your baby to look, point, touch,
and answer questions - all of which promote social development and
thinking skills. And your baby improves language skills by
imitating sounds, recognizing images, and learning words.
But perhaps the most important reason to read aloud is that it
makes a connection between the things your baby loves the most -
your voice and closeness to you - and books. Spending time reading
to your baby shows that reading is a skill worth learning.
Different Ages, Different Stages
Young babies may not know what the images in a book mean, but
they can focus on them, especially faces, bright colors, and
contrasting patterns. Read or sing lullabies and nursery rhymes to
interest and soothe your infant.
Between 4 and 6 months, your baby may begin to show more
interest in books. He or she will grab and hold books, but will
mouth, chew, and drop them as well. Choose sturdy vinyl or cloth
books with bright colors and repetitive or rhyming text.
Between 6 and 12 months, your child is beginning to understand
that pictures represent objects, and most likely will develop
preferences for certain pictures, pages, or even entire stories.
Your baby will respond while you read, grabbing for the book and
making sounds, and by 12 months will turn pages (with some help
from you), pat or start to point to objects on a page, and repeat
your sounds.
When and How to Read
Here's a great thing about reading aloud: It doesn't
take special skills or equipment, just you, your baby, and some
books. Read aloud for a few minutes at a time, but do it often.
Don't worry about finishing entire books - focus on pages that
you and your baby enjoy.
Try to set aside time to read every day - perhaps before naptime
and bedtime. In addition to the pleasure that cuddling your baby
before bed gives both of you, you'll also be making life easier
by establishing a routine. This will help to calm your baby and set
expectations about when it's time to sleep.
It's also good to read at other points in the day. Choose
times when your baby is dry, fed, and alert. Books also come in
handy when you're stuck waiting, so have some in the diaper bag
to fill time sitting at the doctor's office or standing in line
at the grocery store.
Here are some additional reading tips:
- Cuddling while you read helps your baby feel safe, warm, and
connected to you.
- Read with expression, pitching your voice higher or lower
where it's appropriate or using different voices for
different characters.
- Don't worry about following the text exactly. Stop once
in a while and ask questions or make comments on the pictures or
text. ("Where's the kitty? There he is! What a cute
black kitty.") Your child might not be able to respond yet,
but this lays the groundwork for doing so later on.
- Sing nursery rhymes, make funny animal sounds, or bounce your
baby on your knee - anything that shows that reading is fun.
- Babies love - and learn from - repetition, so don't be
afraid of reading the same books over and over. When you do so,
repeat the same emphasis each time as you would with a familiar
song.
- As your baby gets older, encourage him or her to touch the
book or hold sturdier vinyl, cloth, or board books. You don't
want to encourage chewing on books, but by putting them in his or
her mouth, your baby is learning about them, finding out how
books feel and taste - and discovering that they're not
edible!
What to Read
Books for babies should have simple, repetitive text and clear
images. During the first few months of life, your child just likes
to hear your voice, so you can read almost anything, especially
books with a sing-song or rhyming text. As your baby gets more
interested in looking at things, choose books with simple pictures
against solid backgrounds.
Once your baby begins to grab, read vinyl or cloth books with
faces, bright colors, and shapes. When your baby begins to respond
to what's inside of books, add board books with pictures of
babies or familiar objects like toys. When your child begins to do
things like sit up in the bathtub or eat finger foods, find simple
stories about daily routines like bedtime or bathtime. When talking
starts, choose books that invite babies to repeat simple words or
phrases.
Books with mirrors and different textures (crinkly, soft,
scratchy) are also great for this age group, as are fold-out books
that can be propped up, or books with flaps that open for a
surprise. Board books make page turning easier for infants and
vinyl or cloth books can go everywhere - even the tub. Babies of
any age like photo albums with pictures of people they know and
love. And every baby should have a collection of nursery
rhymes!
One of the best ways you can ensure that your little one grows
up to be a reader is to have books around your house. When your
baby is old enough to crawl over to a basket of toys and pick one
out, make sure some books are included in the mix.
In addition to the books you own, take advantage of those you
can borrow from the library. Many libraries have storytime just for
babies, too. Don't forget to pick up a book for yourself while
you're there. Reading for pleasure is another way you can be
your baby's reading role model.
Reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: December 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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