Introducing your little one to the wonderful world of reading can start as early as in baby age.
Babies love to observe. Every time you read to your baby, you reinforce basic reading concepts, such as turning pages and following text from left to right. As you read a book together, point to the pictures, name them, and talk about them. As your infant grows, he will imitate you by turning pages or pointing to objects.
Babies also like to be held and spoken to. And books provide the perfect opportunity for them to learn about speech patterns and how to make sounds.
Early babyhood
Newborns see things best from about 30 cm away — or the distance from your face to your baby’s while you’re holding him. So it’s best to select books with high-contrast images. Black-and-white illustrations and patterns (stripes, polka dots, checkers) provide plenty of entertainment for infants of this age.
Soft baby books are perfectly suitable even for the youngest of babies.
Due to the soft fabric pages your child cannot hurt itself and the book will be able to withstand the inevitable biting and tearing of a baby. Soft baby books can be washed and wiped clean after play.
Letting your baby play with a soft book is also a way of boosting the development of early skills.
Older babies
To stimulate older babies (9+ months), look for books that require some manual dexterity. Lift-the-flap books, touch-and-feel books, and chunky board books sized for little hands are both fun and challenging.
Pointing at the pages boosts their hand-eye coordination and reading improves their language skills and understanding of words.
Things to remember
Most babies do not have the attention span required for lengthy picture books, so stick to simple text and rhymes accompanied by vivid pictures. Also, sturdy construction is important — you want books that will last!
Remember that while babies aren’t born book lovers, they are born learners. And the more you read to them, the more they learn. They learn to love the feel of the pages in their hands (or their mouth), the sound of your voice, the beauty of the illustrations — the joy of a good book.
