Reading with Baby

good little reader

Here is a great picture I took the other day when I caught Daddy and Monkey reading.  I think Daddy was trying to read his book to Monkey, but she crawled away to “read” her own book. Just like Daddy.

As an elementary school teacher, I want to shout from the rooftops and tell everyone I can that it is never too early to read to your child.  That reading should be like breathing or eating.  You wouldn’t go a whole day without feeding your baby.  Yet not everyone believes a daily book to be just as necessary as a meal.

Before my little Monkey was born, I decorated her room with my favorite children’s book characters.  I read to my belly every day and I started a collection of books for her.   With the exception of those first hectic days home from the hospital, I can say that we have read to her every single night before bed.

Before a baby can sit up and see the book, you can read anything to them.  Daddy and I were reading The Hobbit and Sherlock Holmes to her.  Obviously she couldn’t understand, but it’s more about hearing the English language and the soothing sound of your parents voice that settled her down for bed.  Later when she could sit up and be interested, we invested in board books.  She very quickly learned how to turn the pages, and look at the pictures while listening to the story.  We love books with textures to touch or flaps to open and close.  We make books available to her throughout the day, but don’t force them on her.  Monkey is a very active baby who loves to run around the house, bang pots and pans, and be loud.  But she also has her moments when she pulls the books out and will just sit and “read” them so intently.  I am a little taken aback when I see her so focused and remember she is not even a year old.  Daddy and I are often cracking up as we watch her babbling out loud to herself as she turns the pages.  One time she apparently babbled something hilarious to herself because she started giggling.  That sent us rolling!  I have to smile when my baby walks up to me with a book in her outstretched hand and crawls into my lap as if to say, “Read to me!”

Without rambling on, let me just say that I have seen my fair share of children who weren’t given the benefit of an early start with books.  Please read to your children.  Let them see your reading.  Love books.  Let them see you love books.  Love books together.  A child who can read well will be successful in school and in life.  Writing is one of the hardest things to teach a child and I can tell you, from experience, that the best writers are readers.  So please make reading a priority in your house.  Libraries are free!

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