By now we are all aware of the importance of reading to babies and toddlers. Important brain synapses occurs within the first three years of life. No longer can parents put off sharing and teaching their children until they believe they are old enough to comprehend.
Infants and toddlers are like sponges soaking up every bit of knowledge and continually learn by the five senses.
Research shows that by the time children reach the age of three, their brains are twice as active as those of adults. Early experiences have a direct impact on the brain. Therefore, early reading and language development is essential for your baby and toddler to excel as they grow.
In a previous
article on SearchWarp, I discussed tips on how to read to babies and toddlers. In this second article, I will explain how to choose books to read to this age group.
Realize up front two principles. One is that there is a tremendous difference between infants that are up to six months of age and toddlers up to three years old. There is a lot of development occurring in those three years so realize that books will have to be switched out often.
The second principle is that every child is different. In turn, likes and dislikes will be different. That is ok. I have seen this just raising my two children. My son liked a totally different type of books than my daughter ever did even at the baby stage.
Books for infants
When looking for books for babies, look for books with simple pictures and designs that have bright colors. The great thing about today is that they have so many types of books available. Look for books like the chunky board books that can withstand some teeth marks. There are also some great books designed to take in the bath that are plastic or cloth. My kids had a great cloth one that they carried everywhere growing up. It had an alligator that shot out of a cannon, a car that honked and a rattle.
You want to stimulate their senses. That is what is going to make them excited about books. My daughters favorite book during this time was called Peekaboo Kisses. An amazing book that had every texture you could think of for her to touch. It had a squeaker as well as a mirror at the end. There are books that even appeal to their sense of smell that are scratch and sniff books.
Look for items that they are familiar with such as balls, blocks, dolls, etc. They will begin to point and smile when they see favorite objects. Don't forget to include homemade books such as photo albums of family.
Books for toddlers
Toddlers are curious creatures and live to feed their curiosity. Books are a great way to do that. Again you want books with sturdy pages or that are thick board books as toddlers finish the teething process. It is important for toddlers to see books about babies and toddlers. When I taught, my class's most favorite book was a book called, "What Do Babies Do?" They loved yelling out what the baby was doing in each picture. They would even wave bye at the end of the book. Look for books with kids doing things toddlers would do like playing, eating or sleeping.
Books about bedtime are great at this age. Even a book like "Goodnight Moon" can be read to a toddler at nighttime. There are also several character goodnight books available at your local library or bookstore.
Look for books that only have a few words on each page, have simple rhymes or tell simple stories. Books that are easy to memorize are also a great resource for this age. Animal books are real popular with this age group because of the interaction. Teach your kids the sounds the animals make and involve them in telling the story. Also books about cars and trucks thrill the boys. Also, look for your child's favorite character.
I can't stress the importance of having books at the level of your child. They need not only be interesting to your child but be in reach. You will be amazed at how quickly they will pick it up and pretend to read it. Most times, they will even get the words right since they memorized it while you read.
Create a memory today. My most favorite memory was seeing my son smile as a baby to "Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?" If he would have been a little older, I think he would have laughed. It was the first time he smiled at a book. He still loves that book as a grown boy today. Cuddle up with your baby and/or toddler and enjoy a book together.
