I just finished reading another well done article in the July 2008, issue of Parents Magazine, by Leslie Garisto Pfaff (see also, Summer Reading Tips). The title is I Love Story Time, The best way to read to your toddler.
… Give your 1-year-old a book, and you never know what she’ll do with it: chew on it, bang it on the table, wear it on her head, or – surprise – sit down and start thumbing through it. …
In the article there are many useful ideas to encourage reading with your toddler, along with a few interesting facts by some literacy experts. Caroline Blakemore, coauthor of Baby Read-Aloud Basics, had this to say, “Even the most basic children’s books contain three times as many unique words as your child is likely to hear in everyday conversation.” There are so many aspects of language that children learn from listening to us read. And … not only will they be having fun, fostering a love of books at an early age sets children up for a successful academic future.
- Make time to read everyday. Short intervals usually work best with toddlers.
- Create a comfortable reading place.
- Toddlers love routine, so head to the same favorite couch or read before nap/bedtime everyday.
- Be sure to read books of varying subject matter to keep busy minds interested.
- Involve the children in choosing their own book from the shelf, even being able to choose from a selection of two books is a great way to help your child feel more excited about story time.
- If your toddler has a favorite, be prepared to read it over and over. As Leslie Garisto Pfaff says, “Toddlers learn through repetition.” The reward for you as a parent – if you resist the urge to hide the book – will be when your child has memorized the story and starts to finish the sentences before you do.
- Make sure the text is minimal and simple to hold his/her attention. Anything that rhymes is always a plus!
- Don’t be afraid to be overly animated, and use different voices for different characters – be careful not to over dramatize sad or potentially scary emotions.
- Don’t forget to look at the pictures. Be sure to stimulate conversation by asking questions about what they see, have them look for and point to different things.
- As toddlers are very sensory learners, allow them to touch and be involved with the book as much as possible.
Below is the 10 Great Books for Toddlers list that followed the Parents magazine article:
Are You My Mother: by P.D. Eastman (A.K.A. Dr. Suess)
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?: by Bill Martin Jr.
Boynton’s Greatest Hits: Volume 1 : by Sandra Boynton
Bus Stops: by Taro Gomi
Goodnight Moon: by Margaret Wise Brown
No, David!: by David Shannon
Pat the Bunny: by Dorothy Kunhardt
The Very Hungry Caterpillar: by Eric Carle
Machines at Work: by Byron Barton
Where’s Spot?: by Eric Hill
And a few of my daughter’s favorites:
Goodnight Gorilla: by Peggy Rathman
Dear Zoo: by Rod Campbell
Jamberry: by Bruce Degen
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear: by Don Wood
Sheep in a Shop: by Nancy E. Shaw
Tumble Bumble: by Felicia Bond
Links:
How to Introduce Baby to Books: an article by Pamela Kramer, for Parents.com.
Tips for reading to infants and toddlers: an article from the National Education Association.
Reading to Babies, Toddlers and Young Children: an article from The Child Literacy Centre (a UK based site).
