Reading to Baby

Having a baby is one of the most wonderful experiences of a lifetime. After all, think of all the joyful moments you will be able to share with your little one, including feeding times, nap times, and play times! You may also be eager to spend lots of time reading to your son or daughter. Reading is a wonderful activity, because it helps to foster emotional bonds between parent and child. But reading to your youngster also offers countless other benefits. Here is the lowdown on why reading to your baby is so important.

Why Read To Your Baby?

You may be wondering why reading to your baby is such an important part of raising your child. After all, if your baby can’t talk or understand you, how can he possibly understand a book? Well, reading aloud to your baby is about more than just having your child understand the story. In fact, reading offers a number of important benefits that are integral to your child’s development.

Brain Development
Babies’ brains are often compared to sponges: they are just waiting to suck everything up! Your child’s brain is no different, and, in order to encourage proper intellectual development, it is important to talk to him as much as possible. In fact, studies have shown that the number of words a baby hears is directly related to intelligence level and future language skills. Reading provides a wonderful opportunity for you to talk aloud to your baby and will also help baby when it comes to learning how to read later on.

Communication Skills
In order to survive in this world, communication skills are absolutely essential. And by reading to your baby on a regular basis, you can help her to acquire the communication skills that she will need in order to flourish. Reading not only helps your baby to develop verbal communication skills, but it also encourages her to recognize tone and intonation as well as emotions, like anger, sarcasm, and happiness.

Creativity
Though reading on a daily basis may not make your child the next Van Gogh, it will help him to develop his creative side. By becoming familiar with the colors of pictures on a page, and by recognizing sounds, tunes, and rhythms, your child will begin to develop creative centers in his brain. This will lead to a lifetime of creative thought!

Bonding
Reading is also essential for babies because it encourages bonding. When you read to your little one, you can hold her tight, make eye contact, and express your emotions. This can really help to solidify your bond with your child.

Starting a Reading Program

By developing a reading program, you can ensure that your baby is well on his way to future success and creative development.

When Should You Start Reading?
Parents often wonder when they should start reading to their babies. Well, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you start reading to your child on a daily basis once she reaches the age of six months. However, you can start reading well before this – many parents even read to their children in the womb! Even though your baby can’t understand the story itself, she will have so much to gain in terms of brain development and creative thought!

What Should You Read?
If your baby is an infant, then the content of the books you choose to read him are less important than the way you actually deliver the words. Infants are more interested in the intonation, tone, and rhythm of the words, rather than reading comprehension. So feel free to read from a magazine, newspaper, or even that novel you’ve been meaning to get through. Or, you can stick to traditional children’s books and poetry.

As your child grows older, he will become more interested in the content as well as the pictures inside the book. Children between 9 and 12 months love bright colors, interesting sounds, and catchy phrases. So you might want to invest in some nursery rhymes or similar items. Don’t be surprised if your child seems more interested in touching, grabbing, or even eating the book though! Children under the age of one love to be interactive, so invest in sturdy, durable books. Board books, nylon books, or books bound in a sturdy cover are perfect at this age.

After the age of one, your child might begin to show special interest in certain topics. Try to choose books that relate to some of his favorite activities or toys. Or choose interactive books, like popups, that will inspire his creativity.

How Should You Read?
When it comes to reading to baby, there is no right or wrong way. Many parents get nervous about making mistakes or mispronouncing words. This should not be a concern as it won’t affect your baby whatsoever. Instead, try to focus on these elements when it comes to reading:

  • Add Gestures: Gestures help to add interest for baby, and helps to solidify the relationship between words and meaning.
  • Use Facial Expressions: Facial expressions help to bring the story alive for baby, and will inspire him to use his own expressions too!
  • Add Intonation: Just like when you talk to your baby using parentese, add intonation and expression when reading aloud. This will help your baby to associate word meanings and emotions.
  • Stay Close: Hold your baby close to you when you read. Babies need to be within one foot of a book, in order to see the colors and content. Also, bring your face close to baby, so that you can develop a close bond.
  • Repeat Stories: Though frustrating at times, children love to hear the same stories over and over. This can be boring for you, but it’s great for baby’s long term memory development.
  • Watch Babies Cues: Let your baby dictate how you will read to her. If she wants to start in the middle of the book or skip pages, don’t worry. All that matters is that she is involved and having fun. If your child seems tired or is losing interest, put the book away. Babies can only stand being read to for 15 minutes or so.