Four Reading Tips for Parents of Babies, Part 2
Research shows that by reading with your baby, you foster a love of books and reading right from the start. Part 2 of this blog offers more tips to help your child become a happy and confident reader. Again, try a new tip each week and see what works best for your child.
Give the baby a hand!
Encourage your baby to pick up crackers or peas, touch noses and toes, point to pictures, and grab toys. The muscles in those little hands will grow strong, agile, and ready to turn pages.
Develop a daily routine (and make reading a part of it).
Routines can soothe a baby and let a baby learn to predict what will happen next. The ability to predict is important when your child is older and is reading independently.
Sing, Read, Repeat
Read favorite stories and sing favorite songs over and over again. Repeated fun with books will strengthen language development and positive feelings about reading.
“Read” your baby.
Pay attention to how your baby reacts to the book you are reading. Stop if your baby isn’t enjoying the story, and try another book or another time.