Reading to Children Builds
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• Remember to make story time a warm happy experience. Never force your toddler to participate in story time.
• If your toddler doesn't seem interested in books sit on the floor and read out loud to yourself. This may peek his interest.
• Some toddlers enjoy hearing a story but won't sit down. Know that this is fine for this age.
• When reading to toddlers do not subject your toddler to dialog or long descriptive sentences. He doesn't care!!
• Remember attention spans are fleeting at this age so keep it short and fast.
• Choose something of interest in a picture and point it out to your toddler then go on.

• Use your voice to excite and maintain interest. Change your voice,vary your tone and make fun sounds. Remember making giggles helps to stop the wiggles.
• Try to make sharing books an interactive activity. Choose books that have movements associated with them. You can go on a bear hunt or ride a bus.
• When reading to children choose books with music, rhythm and rhymes. Books that have repeated fun phrases are big hits.
• Make the story more personal. My son loved to have me put him and his school friends in a story. Change the names of the characters to your toddler's and friends.
• Start asking "W" questions about the pictures. Play where, what, why and who. Start with asking "where" questions moving to what, why and who as your toddler's language skills develop.
• Slow down and allow your toddler time to process your question, think about an answer and then answer you.
• Use books to introduce concepts like shapes,colors,size and position.
• Toddlers are learning about daily routines and self help activities. Choose books about bed time or getting dressed.
• Remember that toddlers learn through repetition. When reading to toddlers be prepared to read the same book over and over.
• When you can, relate what is happening in the picture to a real life event for the toddler. Say to your toddler," The baby is playing in the sand box just like you".


• Make room for books in your house by starting a home library. Place books in a special place(shelf or box).
• Demonstrate respect for books and teach your toddler to care for them.
• Give books a special status in your child's life by giving them for presents or rewards.
• Turn off the T.V. and read with your toddler. T.V. and Kids
• Take your toddler to the library!!

Baby Reading Advice

Reading to Children

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