Can you really read to an infant?
Some people think it somewhat ridiculous to read books to a small baby. This never occurred to me, as I’ve always thought of someone reading aloud to be so calming and intimate, and therefore most appropriate for children of all ages. I still remember reading a few books to my then 5 month old son. He sat in my lap and calmly listened to my voice as a flipped through some pages of board books. He was relaxed, but not really focusing on the books that I was reading--until we started the last one. This book was actually an accordian style book: a series of different photographs of baby faces, some in black and white. He was entranced. And amazingly, when we looked at the picture of a baby smiling, he started grinning himself. Could he understand my comments about the photos? Could he answer me when I asked him if the baby was sleeping? Of course not. But he was sharing a special moment with me, and the book was what linked us in that moment. Though young, infants can appreciate and enjoy being read to and exposed to books. And most importantly, the comfort and joy they are experiencing will continue to grow as they develop into life-long readers.
When to read to your baby!
By about 6 months, reading should be incorporated into your child’s daily schedule. Most parents enjoy sharing books before bedtime, when baby is just bathed, warm and snuggled in your lap. Naturally this is an ideal time to wind down their day. However, this is not the only time available for reading. Young babies especially (less than 4 months) should be read to during “quiet alert” times. This is that lovely time of day when your child is 1) awake 2) calm 3) interested. If baby is kicking up a storm or begins fussing, s/he might be overstimulated, bored, or getting tired. It is most important to pick times of the day that are relaxing and convenient, so you can really enjoy the experience, rather than having to glance at the clock, or stop halfway through because the kitchen timer just went off.
I say “times” plural because as your baby grows older and approaches toddlerhood, I think it is important to read multiple times a day. Reading can be a wonderful transition between times of the day, and frequent reading sessions sends an important message to your child: we read because we enjoy it, not just because it is bedtime. Busy families who work and have children in childcare need not shake their heads at this idea. Imagine, reading aloud a board book over cheerios in the morning or sharing a book during bath time. I loved reading a book to my son when I picked him up for childcare in the afternoons. Rather than whisking him away immediately, I sat down in his space with his friends and teachers, and read a book, usually gaining a large audience of his peers. Of course this isn’t done everyday, and it doesn’t need to be. But the more you show your child that reading is a part of your day, throughout the day, the sooner they will seek out books on their own, for quiet and independent time.
Our oldest (2 and 3 months) loves reading and gets up and reads on his own every morning. We usually find him in the big chair in his room with a pile of books, and he always exclaims, "my read books!" Very cute!
ReplyDeleteThat's adorable Carrie; I'm so glad your little one has a love of books already! Kids who grow up in a house where books are abundant and reading is a daily fun activity really do love it early on. Looking at books is also one of the first things that kids can do independently, which builds their self confidence.
ReplyDeleteWe have a 3.5 year old who devours books and is read to many times a day. We also have a 15 month old who has very little interest in books, despite our many efforts. The little one wiggles out of our arms after the first page, too busy running, climbing, playing. He's always been like that. Oddly, it's the older one who has SPD and is a sensory seeker, but for her books are a refuge and have always been. We have books in every room, at the kids' level. What can I do to gently get the little one more interested?
ReplyDeleteIn response to the post from Anonymous... I wouldn't worry too much about your 15 month old at this point. It is wonderful that your daughter enjoys sitting with you for reading time, but as the mother of a rambunctious, second-born son, I can fully appreciate the differences in temperaments when it comes to story time. Your son may need the movement to process what you're reading or he may be in a developmental phase where he truly is "too busy" to sit still. For active boys, 15 months is young to sit still and concentrate on story time when their bodies still want to be exploring. My advice is to continue to keep reading and books a part of your daily life, at his level, and welcome him to take part in story time on his terms. I often read a book with my daughter in my lap while my son climbs and slides continuously right next to us. As he progresses through development his interest level in books should change as should his attention span for listening to books, although you may not see it until 18-22months. Another way to peak his interest now is to offer him books with action, like lift the flap, musical buttons, etc. Books by Matthew VanFleet, like "Dogs" and "Tails," are fun and interactive for little ones. Good luck and happy reading!
ReplyDelete