Reading to Babies - Why Babies Need Books |
| It's never too early to start reading to your baby. Books are a great way to entertain your baby as well as a great way to build a relationship with your child in the first months of life. Reading is one of the ways to help your baby learn about communication. |
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Why read to my baby?
Holding your baby and sharing a book is a very special time.- Babies learn that reading is important when you hold them, and show them pictures in a book, and you talk about the pictures.
- Babies enjoy being read to because they like the sound of your voice, and they like having you close for some special time together.
- Babies enjoy looking at the pictures and listening to the rhythm of your voice long before they can understand the words.
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Books are great for encouraging a range of important skills, such as:
- talking and understanding language
- imagination
- concentration
- creativity
- listening
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How can I read with my baby?
- Try to create a time for reading with your child every day when your baby is alert and showing interest in what is happening around him. It may be a good idea to read at the same time every day, or in the same special chair.
- Babies see most clearly at about 20 to 25cm, and when they are very young they like to look at clear, simple shapes which are brightly coloured.
- When reading, try to look at both the book and your baby. Point to the pictures and talk about the things your baby notices.
- When reading aloud, try to use your voice in many ways to make the storytime as interesting for your baby as possible - loud and soft, happy and sad.
- You will need to be persistent when reading to your baby, as the length of time your baby will be able to attend to a story will grow over time.
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| Some parents do not like reading, but holding your baby, looking at a book, and talking about the pictures may give your baby a better start with reading than you had. Make sharing books with your baby as much fun as possible. |
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Which books are suitable for my baby?
Young babies need books with simple brightly coloured pictures, with a few words to each page.Older babies and babies who are starting to crawl, then walk, often like books with simple pictures of things that they know (toys, food, cars, animals, other children). As soon as they get old enough to hold books, babies want to turn the pages, tear the pages, chew them and throw them. A baby's first books need to be strong, simple and cheap (so you won't worry too much if they get damaged). - Soft covers
- Sturdy board books
- Books with bright colours
- Noisy books
- Plastic books for bathtubs
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Where can I find books for my baby?
- Bookshops and supermarkets often have cheap soft cover, cloth and plastic books.
- Try second hand bookshops and markets.
- Make your own book by gluing magazine pictures, photos, etc on paper and sewing the pages together.
- Reading and borrowing books from your free library service at Bundaberg Library.
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Stages of Reading
- Birth - 3 months: Shared reading (with a book) when a baby can hold up his head without adult support. Before then, use songs, rhymes and finger plays.
- 4 - 6 months: Babies at this stage want to explore books. Prepare for chewing, sucking and dribbling by choosing books that can be washed.
- 6 - 9 months: As babies develop small motor skills, they may want to turn the pages of a board book.
- 9 - 12 months: Babies should begin to pay attention to the content of a book now. Board books are the best for this age. Babies may begin talking about objects in books, and repeating sounds you make from books.
- 12 - 18 months: Books about familiar objects are popular. Simple concept books, little plot, and noisy and flap books are good.
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