Stepping Into Books

There isn't one best way to read to all toddlers. Every child is unique, and every family's schedule is different. But, you will be most successful if you:

• adapt your reading aloud to your child's and your family's style
• notice what your child is learning about books
• help your child learn as you read together.

Adapt to Your Child's and Family's Styles

• Find a time and place for reading that will fit your schedule most days. Although we typically think of reading bedtime stories, children enjoy books across the day. Some parents read a book at the changing table, before passing it on to the toddler to look at during diapering. Other parents have had success with reading at mealtime or bath time. Parents of very active children have learned to read to their children while the children paint or color or build, or rock on a rocking horse. Some children like to hold a favorite stuffed animal, or sit on a lap while listening to a story. Many toddlers enjoy hearing a story, rhymes or songs on tape while they lie down for nap. Your toddler will soon look forward to these reading rituals!



• Try to read at a time when your family life is somewhat quiet and calm. Turn off the television or music. Teach brothers and sisters not to interrupt while you are reading: “Honey, I'll be with you as soon as I finish Billy's story.”



• Choose books that suit your toddler:



• First, choose books that your child cannot damage. You want book time to be pleasant; not a time where your child feels guilty about tearing a book. Libraries and bookstores have many books for young children that are made from cardboard, plastic, and stiff paper.



• Second, choose books that your toddler can enjoy interacting with. Active children love books that invite them to touch and feel, smell, and lift flaps and pull-tabs.



• Finally, choose books that you think your child will like. Look for ones that have pictures of your child's favorite things: dogs, trucks, food, farm animals, teddy bears, etc.


• Of course, once your toddler starts to enjoy books, your child will ask you to read at other times. So you will want to have sturdy books to place around your home. Then your child will be able to ask other people to read, too. This means there will be lots of storytimes, all across the day!

Notice What Your Child Can Do

• How does your child participate when you read together? It is important for your child to pay attention to books; and for toddlers, especially, this means being active! Your child might slap favorite pages or like to point to objects in the pictures. Some toddlers sway and kick their feet to nursery rhymes. Lots of toddlers like to talk or sing along to familiar books. Allow your child to participate in his own special way as you read.



• Does your child have some favorite books? Is he beginning to like being read to? These are first steps to becoming a good reader. Show your child that you are proud of him: “Oh, here is Billy's favorite book!” “Billy and I just love story time—we sit and talk and snuggle.”



• What is your child learning about books? Does he know the names of some of his books? Can he turn pages himself? Does he use book talk and say things like “Once upon a time” or “The End” as he looks at books? Does your child know:
  
  
  • when a book is upside down
  • that the story starts at the beginning of the book
  • that books have both print and pictures
  • that books have names
  • that people write stories and draw pictures for books?

  These are all important discoveries that will help your child later on when he learns to read.

• What else is your child learning as you read together? Your child is probably learning new words, and learning about things that may not be a part of his everyday world: names of jungle animals, shape names, what it is like to go fishing. Your child is also learning to ask and answer questions, to take turns, and to recognize the sound of rhymes. Notice what your child is learning and give your child lots of opportunities to practice these new words and ideas. You can do this by re-reading books and by talking about them after you have read them. Children who learn from books will be motivated to learn to read.

Help Your Child Learn while You Read Together

• Help your toddler become a good listener. Usually this means letting your child be active while you read. Encourage your child to:
  
  
  • turn pages, help open flaps and pull-tabs
  • imitate the actions from the books
  • point to and name objects
  • make sounds that go with animals and actions
  • join in on rhymes or repeated words
  • answer and ask questions as you read to him.
  
  
  
• Help your child understand the story. Children pay better attention when they understand what is going on in the story. You help them do this when you:
  
  
  • show your child how the pictures go with the story
  • remind your child about an important part of the story: “Remember, Goldilocks was supposed to go straight to her Grandmother's house!”
  • explain the meaning of a new word: “Porridge is hot cereal, like oatmeal.”
  • dramatize the story by using your voice and your body: pretend to spit out Papa Bear's cold porridge
  • help your child understand how the characters feel: “I bet Goldilocks is so scared. Look at her face!”
  • relate the story to your child' experiences: “Remember when we went for a walk in the woods?”
  
  
  
• Help your child learn to enjoy and notice the sounds of language. Toddlers adore rhymes and songs, so be sure to check out collections of them from your local library. For good choices of these books go to the Rhymes and Songs booklist. Wise parents will memorize several songs and rhymes from books so that the fun can go on! Rhymes and songs don't have to make sense to you or your child. Instead, they have to sound good and feel good. They make language fun to listen to and say. These early, playful experiences with rhythm and rhyme builds a strong foundation for your child's future efforts in learning to read. You can provide these experiences for your child when you:
  
  
  • read nursery rhymes and poems to your child
  • sing songs to your child every day
  • ask your child to join you in singing and saying rhymes
  • see that your child has song and poem books
  • re-read your child's favorite books so many times that he learns to predict which words will come next.