Baby Reading is Not Actually Reading

If your voice is soothing and rhythmic your baby won't care what book you choose to read.

Here are some great tips on reading to babies that are easy, doable ideas that should fit seamlessly into a busy mommy day.

• Hold and cuddle your baby while you share books with him. Teach him to associate books with warm secure feelings.
• Choose books with rhythms and rhymes. It's time to pull out those childhood memories of nursery rhyme lyrics.
• Choose books that delight the senses. Babies love to touch and feel different textures, look at pictures and hold and chew on objects.
• Very young babies between 0-4 months see black and white contrasts easier so choose simple books with single black pictures on white background.
• Books that have one or two real pictures with a single color background are easier to focus on and less over stimulating.
• Baby books that are cloth, vinyl or heavy cardboard are the best books for babies.
• Older babies love pictures of animals,toys and faces. Spend time pointing to and naming pictures. Make animal sounds or talk about facial features.
• Choose books for older babies that allow activity. Books pop-up,have pull tabs, buttons to push and textures to touch.
• All children enjoy photos albums of familiar people or favorite toys. Vinyl photo books for little family members can be found at most children stores.
• Sit your baby where he can easily see the pictures. Allow him to be involved in story time activity by holding the book and turning pages.
• Offer your baby a toy to hold and/or chew while you read together.
• Stay on a page for as long as your baby shows interest.
• When your baby wishes to do something new put the book away for another time.

Reading to Children

Baby Reading

Educational Resources

Home Page