Introducing books at an early age is the best way to raise a child who enjoys reading and does well in school. Here’s how to share story time with your little one.
| December 16th, 2008 | by: Nancy Ripton |
Parents take note of the latest research: The earlier babies are exposed to reading, the better they perform in school. Babies have short attention spans, so start by reading for 10 to 15 minutes once or twice a day. At four and five months, babies like to look at images they're familiar with, such as other babies, animals and basic objects. Board books are best until age one, as paper books tend to get chewed and torn.
Reading to your child encourages speech and language development and is a great way for you to interact and communicate with your baby early on. Studies also show that the earlier babies are exposed to reading, the more they will enjoy reading and learning and the better they will perform in school. Here's how to get started with your little one:
Keep it short: Infants have short attention spans, so read for 10 to 15 minutes, once or twice a day. What to read: For the first few months, read what you enjoy. After that, use board or fabric books so your baby can explore the book with you. "It's okay if they eat the pages," says Dr. Remer-Altman. By four or five months, babies like to look at images they are familiar with–other babies, animals, basic objects. Repetition: If you read the same story over and over, your baby will learn at what points he should laugh and get excited by the changes in your voice. Watch baby evolve: By six to nine months, your baby will start to copy you and turn multiple pages at a time. They will also be able to engage in flip up books. An enlightened reader: By about one-year your child will be able to flip single pages in a book. They will also stop using the pages as a teether, so it's a great time to start introducing paper books.
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Parents take note of the latest research: