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Read to your baby!
18 January 08Reading is one of the best ways to help your baby to learn about communication, and at this age it's not all about reading the words it's more about enjoying the interaction with you, as she loves the sound of your voice and your undivided attention. Your baby will enjoy looking at the pictures and listening to the rhythm of your voice long before she can understand the words.
Holding your baby and sharing a book is a very special time, and she'll quickly learn that reading is important. Research shows that children whose parents read books to them when they're young often learn to speak, read and write more easily. Books are also great for encouraging a range of other important skills, such as imagination, concentration, creativity and listening.
Young babies need strong and simple books with brightly coloured pictures, with a few words to each page. When she's able to hold books, your baby will want to turn, tear and chew the pages, so you are best off buying books she can't damage, like cloth books, strong board books and plastic books for the bath. Choose books with rhythms and rhymes; songs, hand and finger actions; books that make noises; and opening and closing flaps.
Visit your local library for free access to a great range of books, or find cheap books in supermarkets, second-hand bookshops, markets and department stores like Kmart and Target, and of course bookshops. You could start a book club with your mothers group, or even make your own books. It doesn't matter where you find your books; just start reading to your baby!
Here's some handy ideas and hints for reading to your baby:
· Try to read with your baby every day when she is alert and showing interest in what's happening around her and make sharing books with her as much fun as possible.
· Babies see most clearly at a distance of about 20-25 centimetres, so when they're very young they like to look at clear, simple, brightly coloured shapes and pictures.
· When reading, try to look both at the book and your baby. Point to the pictures and talk about the things she's looking at.
· When reading aloud, try to use your voice in different ways to make the story time as interesting for your baby as possible loud and soft, happy and sad.
· If you find books your baby loves, read them over and over and try to use the same reading voice each time so she gets used to the pattern.
· Be persistent when reading to your baby, as the length of time she'll be able to focus on a story will grow over time.
· If you don't like reading, simply hold your baby while looking at a book, and talk about the pictures. You don't have to say the words that are written on the page feel free to make up your own stories!