Reading to Infants and Toddlers (Adapted from Healthy Steps)

For infants 6-12 months:

Introducing books: Children who are read to from an early age are more prepared for school. Babies, as young as six months, can actually start learning from books. More importantly, they begin to associate books with pleasure.

What to do: Hold your baby comfortably and show her a book. See if you can get her to be interested in something about the book. Watch your baby's reaction. Only continue if she is showing signs of being interested. At first this may only last for a minute or so. Success is when your baby reaches out for the book to put it in her mouth and keeps her head up steady in your lap. Later she may begin looking at the pictures. By about ten months her baby may be able to pat the pictures. You may notice that your baby makes some noises while looking at the book and may prefer photos of faces.

Some appropriate books for babies 6 to 12 months old:

• Board books with photos of other babies
• Small chunky board books to touch and taste!
• Cloth books that will not be destroyed by rough handling and mouthing
• Books with photos of familiar objects like balls and bottles

For toddlers 12-18 months:

Introducing books: Children who are read to from an early age are more prepared for school. The goals at this age are to keep the child enthused about books. Also avoid a struggle if he grabs the book or doesn't want to cooperate with sitting and reading.

What to do: Keep book reading tied to routines such as bedtime and naptime. Do not insist on reading to him or taking the book away if he wants to hold it. Child may turn the pages, but usually several at a time - let him do it. You often will not want to read the story, but just label the pictures. Child may begin to point to pictures with one finger and you can label them when he does. You don't have to read the book to tell a story. He may be interested in animal pictures and the sounds. Later he may become able to imitate and then label the animal sounds. Make the story come alive! Make up voices; use your body to tell the story. He may want to carry the book and may bring it to be read. If you insist that he listen, he may insistently refuse. Go with his preferences. The goal is for him to come out of this stage still in love with books and eager for you to read them.

Some appropriate books for toddlers 12-18 months old:

• Sturdy board books that they can carry
• Books with photos of children doing familiar things like sleeping or playing
• Goodnight books for bedtime
• Books about saying good-bye and hello
• Books with only a few words on each page
• Books with simple rhymes or predictable text
• Animal books

For toddlers 18 months-3 years:

Introducing books: Children who are read to from an early age are more prepared for school. The goal at this age is to get the child interested in the fact that there is a story associated with the book. Then have your child use their imagination to build on the story. The challenge is to be patient with the changing attention span of your toddler. Don't insist on reading when they are interested in other things.

What to do: He may want to practice the skill of turning one page at a time. He may begin to name familiar pictures. Show your child the cover page. Explain what the story is about. Expect that his attention will vary greatly. Sometimes he will be too impatient to listen. Keep reading tied to everyday routines such as bedtime and naptime. Even reading a few minutes can be beneficial. Children, as young as toddlers, can begin to memorize parts of a story. He may want to "read" to his stuffed animal. Expect to have to read the same story over and over again. Ask questions about the characters, and other questions such as "what's that?" "What's going to happen next?" Give your child time to answer. Let your child ask questions about the story. Show your child the words. Run your finger along the words as you read them.

Some appropriate books for toddlers 18 months-3 years old:

• Books that tell stories
• Books about kids that look and live like them
• Books about making friends
• Books about going to school or to the doctor
• Books about having brothers and sisters
• Books that have simple texts that they can memorize or read!

Adapted from Healthy Steps. Edited and Compiled by the Center for Promotion of Child Development Through Primary Care 2011