When to start reading to your baby ? Reading Books for Kids.
I get lot of questions asking me, what am I reading to my 1-year old kid. and when to start reading to your baby. Also, when did I start and what exactly am I reading to him? So, basically the questions about reading will be answered in today’s post.
Hello everyone, I am sorry for not writing parenting articles as frequently as I use to, but I promise that I am back and for good.
I am here to share my experience and if it can help any of you, I would be thrilled.
So let me start this post in a question and answer format.
1. When to start reading to your kid?
Well honestly as early as you can. Babies do not understand but they can hear you. Reading books before bed time also develops a schedule. So, you don’t have to really train your kid too much to go to sleep if the reading habit is developed at early stage.
In addition to this, reading teaches child to communicate and develops his listening skills. Narrate the stories and add a lot of gestures, hand movements and voice modulation so that the baby is there with you and enjoys the experience.
2. When did I start reading books?
I won’t lie to you guys. I started pretty late and it was only after 6 months. The reason behind this was that I was unaware that we can start as soon as we can. I kept on thinking that the child won’t understand the stories in book so I just made up some silly stories and use to tell him. But, I think he enjoyed those! However, one can start as early as one can…the point is we are not reading the book to make the baby understand!
It is a habit that we need to develop first. Also, babies start touching the books and get a hang of it too.
3. What kind of books should be start with first?
Remember that Colourful illustrations can help keep a child’s attention, so start with books that have colourful pages, colourful images. Big and clear images always help the child attract more.
Such bright books help a child to focus better.
4. When can a baby show interest in books?
This is a difficult question to answer. My friends started reading to their kids from 3 months and even before. So, I guess, 4- 6 months is a good time to start reading books to your kid. Also, I would like to stress that it should be an enjoyable experience for both mother and the child. Don’t do it for the sake of doing it.
I was very weak after delivery and I could feel it. Therefore, I took all the time to recover from all what I was going through. I didn’t want to star reading as it appeared to me an extra task for me. Hence, the delay and I started reading to my kid when he was 6 months old.
5. What stories/ books to start for 6 months to 1 year old?
There are a lot of books available on Amazon.com as per various age groups for children.
I personally ordered few books for my baby. Below are the books that I ordered from amazon when he was 6 months old.
A) Ladybird Baby Touch Playbook (Absolutely pretty book, with different textures like mirror, Stripey square, fluffy place for baby to touch)
B) first 100 words Priddy Baby (bought for the sake of many pictures that are in this small book)
c ) A Karen Katz lift-the-flap-book (Where Is Baby’s Belly Button) Flap book very nice and attractive
D) The world of Eric Carle ( little learning library) for pictures
Of course, my baby didn’t understand any of this when he was 6 months old. But, it was a new thing for him. He enjoyed it and I loved it! At least I am not leaving my kid to become one TV zombie! I am trying hard to play with him and to keep him busy so that he is not watching TV and songs on mobile the whole day.
6. How can I make my child be a good reader?
Okay, really? Please do not stress. This is no competition. Like not all people can drink black tea, similarly, not all children grow to love books and that is okay.
You have to do your bit and leave the rest to the kid and his/her likings.
One tip that I would like to add is that I have a basket full of toys for my baby. He crawls now and can reach the basket of toys in no time. I have kept few books as well in the same basket. So, at times he plays with his favourite battery engine and next time he plays with the book! Books should be made accessible to kids.
7. Is there any other way to get access to good books without buying?
Yes! You can use online books like www.magickeys.com that have stories for kids of all ages. Also, www.storyjumper.com offers free books. Do check them out!
8. Do you only do English reading to your kid?
No! And why should I? I read both English and Hindi books as these are the two languages we use at home too to communicate.
Well, I hope this post is able to clear few doubts. You can always ask me question if any doubt in the comment section below. This post was all about when to start reading to your baby, what to read and similar questions. Do let me know if you wish to know about more similar topics. Like what he is eating, playing etc.
Also, you can follow me on Instagram, search with @Cosmochics. Let’s be friends and share good stuff!
I shall be waiting for you.
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