toddler reading
Read three books a day with your toddler and he will be set for life. That's the theory anyway. Reading aloud to a child, from as early as a few weeks old, will develop vocabulary, increase literacy in later life, and provide a special bonding time with a grown up.
Read three books with your kids
Australian children's book author Mem Fox recommends that every parents spend "ten wildly happy minutes" reading to their child. Read three books, or the same book three times. Children need to have had thousands of reading sessions before they can learn to read for themselves.
The wonderful thing about reading to your child is that he is rarely critical of how you do it. Silly voices, loud roars, whispered squeaks, sing-song rhymes can be played up to your heart's content. Practice your best impersonations when voicing each character, or try it all in a growly bear voice. Only you and your little one are listening!
Repetition is golden
Kids love repetition, and toddlers love it more! The refrain "again, again!" will be familiar to any parent who has just finished a much-loved story. Reading the same book may seem boring to an adult who has grasped the whole story the first time, but to little brains just making vital connections, repetition is essential. If you're bored with reading the same book over and over, try reading it in a different voice, or read the pages backwards. If all else fails, forget the words and just go through the pictures, making up your own story or ask your child to come up with a new story.
Enjoy it
Some books that kids like are intensely dull to adults, while others are an absolute joy to read. Search out books you loved as a child to share with your toddler, scour the local library for books with pleasant rhymes or gorgeous illustrations. There are so many wonderful children's books available that there is no excuse for reading boring books. Many bookshops stock the pamphlet "Don't Leave Childhood Without" which lists fantastic Australian books by age group. Working your way through that list will be a pleasure for you and your toddler.
Cuddle up
Part of the importance of reading to a child is having a chance to spend precious minutes cuddled up quietly with your toddler. With many of us working, or just getting through the tasks at hand, quiet minutes at the end of the day where you both give undivided attention to a book are precious indeed. Research shows that the security provided by these quiet cuddles enhance the educational benefits of reading stories.
Early learning from pictures, not just words
While listening to stories is certainly one of the ways children learn their vocabulary, studies have shown that looking at pictures also provide young children, even babies, with vital information about the world. Books with photographs of everyday objects or children doing particular tasks can teach toddlers and preschoolers how to tackle tasks like brushing their teeth or pulling on shoes.
This is particularly true for the numerous books about baby signs - an early form of childhood communication. Good baby sign books show photographs of toddlers making signs for things like "hungry", "thirsty" and "bedtime". Babies who learn to communicate with signs are more likely to speak early, but the benefits of being able to communicate wants are immediate. As a parent, understanding that your baby wants a drink can be a revelation!
