Reading With Your Baby

After all, young children may not be able to understand or even enjoy books without the help of an adult. It is up to parents or other caregivers to show their child how books and reading are enjoyable and make them part of the child's normal routine.

Though keep in mind that more is not always better. The way you interact with your child during shared reading times may be even more important than how often you read together.

Getting through the book from start to finish is not the goal. So, if your child wants to read the same page over and over again or look at the pages out of order, don't be afraid to follow. Spend time talking about the pictures and words. Ask and answer questions about the story and characters. Encourage your child to participate and let him lead the way, even by finishing sentences if it is a familiar story.

Be sure to praise your child for trying even if he doesn't get it right.

If your child gets bored with a book, or wants to make up his own story, that's okay too. The important thing is to make reading together a positive experience.

If he is tired or hungry, reading might not be the first order of business. Getting impatient, or demanding that your child pay attention won't make this a positive experience for either of you. Be patient and sensitive to your child's needs as she learns. If reading is fun, your child will want to read more often.

Reading together every day can become a treasured time to build a parent-child relationship and provide a valuable opportunity to expose children to literacy early in life.

Reading books together.

By sharing common everyday moments like reading recipes, magazines or even cereal boxes, you are showing your child how reading works in your life.

Parents who want to help their children learn to read should just do what comes naturally: simple, everyday acts like cooking, taking a walk, shopping or sharing a family meal present excellent opportunities to motivate your child to read independently. Voluntary, independent reading is a skill that needs to be acquired by frequent practice.

Take opportunities to read with your child and be creative with the process of reading. Above all, be sure your children see you read for pleasure. They grow up knowing that reading is important, relaxing and enjoyable. And your example may be the most powerful tool of all.

Finding time to read with your baby or toddler:

Make it a bedtime ritual.

Read when Baby is cuddled in your arms and needs, but refuses, to sleep. The sound of your voice can do the trick.

For active babies who only want to play, memorize a simple book and recite it to him or her while you play together. Many books have rhythm. Clap Baby's hands together as you read or recite the book.

Read before or after naps or in place of watching a television show.

Allow your toddler to pretend to read, flipping the pages and simply playing with the book.

Your baby should develop his/her reading skills from as early age as it possible. It all comes naturally - make learning to read enjoyable everyday routine. Following some practical tips:

• The next time you cook, ask your child to read the recipe while you prepare a dish together. Together, write down meal plans or a grocery list. Have your child write out a favorite family recipe.

• Take advantage of your child's natural love of the outdoors. Write about what you see on a walk, keeping lists of the plants, animals, insects and birds you come across. Observe the moon and stars above and keep a log of your observations.

• Go shopping: Before you go, make a list. Have your child find those items in the store, reading and comparing labels and selecting items that fit your needs. Read and talk about the signs you see in the store.

• Check out the news: The newspaper presents an opportunity to practice reading skills every day. Discuss what you've read, or keep a file of favorite clips.

• Read and write routinely: Read aloud to your child, and have your child read to you. Read silently sitting side-by-side. Talk about reading. Discuss books or magazine articles you enjoyed reading. Write little notes.

• Watch TV together and make TV viewing an active pastime by discussing critically what you see on the screen.

How to Read to Small Children:

Change dynamics. Vary your voice volume from loud to soft, depending on the story parts.

Change intonation. Alter the ups and downs of your voice; avoid monotony.

Change tempo. Vary the pace of your reading, depending on the action in the story. A slow tempo can create suspense or emphasize a recurring line in the story. A fast tempo can evoke excitement or humor.

Interact. Allow your child to help turn the pages, point out parts of the illustration and ask questions like.

Monitor and adjust. If your baby or toddler is getting bored or wants a different kind of book, accommodate. Turn to the end, and say "the end," even if half the book is left. Never force Baby to sit and listen; that fosters negative feelings toward reading.

Encourage. Let the child choose the book if old enough. Discuss books together.

In the past, many people believed that literacy began when children entered school and started to learn specific skills. We now know differently. Children actually start developing the skills they need to read and write much earlier in life, well before they reach kindergarten.

School is a great place to learn, but what happens at home is one of the most important factors in a child's development. Sharing books with your child plays a critical role in language growth, emergent literacy, and reading achievement at school.

Bonding through books.

Even though young children are unable to read themselves, it's never too early to introduce them to the world of written language. Shared reading time is a good way to help strengthen the bond or attachment between you and your child.

After all, young children may not be able to understand or even enjoy books without the help of an adult. It is up to parents or other caregivers to show their child how books and reading are enjoyable and make them part of the child's normal routine.

Though keep in mind that more is not always better. The way you interact with your child during shared reading times may be even more important than how often you read together.

Getting through the book from start to finish is not the goal. So, if your child wants to read the same page over and over again or look at the pages out of order, don't be afraid to follow. Spend time talking about the pictures and words. Ask and answer questions about the story and characters. Encourage your child to participate and let him lead the way, even by finishing sentences if it is a familiar story.

Be sure to praise your child for trying even if he doesn't get it right.

If your child gets bored with a book, or wants to make up his own story, that's okay too. The important thing is to make reading together a positive experience.

If he is tired or hungry, reading might not be the first order of business. Getting impatient, or demanding that your child pay attention won't make this a positive experience for either of you. Be patient and sensitive to your child's needs as she learns. If reading is fun, your child will want to read more often.

Reading together every day can become a treasured time to build a parent-child relationship and provide a valuable opportunity to expose children to literacy early in life.

Choosing a Book to Read

Often the problem does not lie with our babies, but rather with the book selection we have made. It's a confusing task, so please consider:

• Sound - Does it use alliteration (similar beginning sounds, like in a tongue-twister), rhyme or repetition?

• Theme - Does it have an important lesson to teach? How can that lesson be applied?

• Pictures - Is it visually appealing? Do the illustrations enhance the story or allow for further interaction with the child?

• Difficulty level - Is it age appropriate? Can it be used for a range of ages?

• Educational Purposes - Does it have any educational value? Does it teach colors, numbers, comparison, alphabet, shapes, animals, relationships, emotions, etc.?

• Durability - Does the book have strong cardboard pages?

A book need not meet every single one of these requirements to be a good book, but it should meet the requirements that are important to you as a parent.

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