You know it is never to early to start having the young ones join in the family reading. Small babies get just as much excitement and fun from the books as would the older children. Gradually they will come to learn through the sounds and the pictures how to point to things, and make expressions. Babies and children are constantly learning and it is great when they can all join in learning together. I know with my little ones I use both picture books and non-pictures books so that they can use their imagination.
Books help them to develop their visual senses along with their language and communication skills. It will help them to broaden their imagination when it comes to play and the whole world around them. Don’t force the books down their throat but gradually more and more as the child craves them. My First son would love to be read to but only in short increments, (he’s not the one to sit for to long). So I would read in short amounts and then as time passed by he still was learning, and to this day he still cant sit that long. But enjoys reading himself while standing up.
My second son was a natural, he took to books like he was born to read. So that is why I make sure we read w/him as least four books a day or even more. Only because he asks me to read.’ha, ha’.
So you see each child each is different, but we have to start them at a young age to get them into it.So that they can realize that reading is just a part of life and so much fun!
Here some tips that can help:
- Use picture books for the young ones with lots of colors and bold lettering
- pop up books can create excitement and fun
- Nursery rhyme and action books are great for learning rhythm
- short small story books, or make your own books.
- Keep a book area in the living area and kids room that is at a low level, so they can reach them
- use audio books
- Keep tons of information books for the older ones, so besides the regular story books. They can have information with some cool facts.
- Most of all read as a family.
Thanks for the article Elizabeth. Reading with my kids is one of my favorite things about being a Mom
I made a book for my two-year-old daughter by adding a narrative to some photos we had of a recent trip in a little photo album. She loves reading the story of her own adventures. This might be another way to get kids more interested in reading–cast them as the main characters!
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