Reading Books to Babies
Babies love being read to, and it helps them develop language skills and memory. It’s important to choose books that they will engage with, so try looking for cloth books or board books with bright colors. Cloth books are great because they can be grabbed and played with. Board books are durable and can be dropped and pulled about.
When and How to Read
You can read to babies on a daily basis from birth. This helps them develop language skills and it gives them a head start on reading at school. Helping with their language development from an early age will improve child development.
What to Read
The best books for babies include classic stories like Goodnight Moon, Where the Wild Things Are, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. These books will teach them basic concepts like colors, numbers, letters, shapes, and animals. They’ll also develop language skills by reading simple words out loud. They are also full of bright colors. Look for age appropriate books and stories with rhymes.
Why Reading to Babies Is Important
The first few years of life are critical for brain development. It’s important to expose babies to books at this age so they develop language skills and become familiar with stories. This helps them later on when they start school.
How Often to Read to Your Baby
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reading to babies at least every two hours from birth to six months old, and then once per day after that. This will ensure they develop language skills and improve cognitive development. If you want to read to your baby before they’re born, it’s recommended that you start doing so around eight weeks into your pregnancy.
Let them explore
The best way to introduce books to babies is by letting them explore what they want to read. If they choose something, then great! But if not, don’t worry – it’s normal for babies to prefer one book over another. It takes time for babies to develop their own interests and preferences.
Get ready to repeat yourself
If you read books aloud to babies, it’s likely they’ll start recognising story patterns and requesting their favorite books when they can talk. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing – it means they’ve started developing language skills. Keep reading to them on a daily basis and it will become an essential component of their literacy development.
Make it daily
If you want to read to your baby every day, then this is one of the best ways to bond with them. It will also give you something to look forward to each morning, which is great for getting out of bed! Incorporate story time into your night time routine to help your little one to sleep.
Things reading to a baby will help with
- Language development
- Literacy skills
- Literacy promotion
- Native language
