Snuggling up with your baby on your lap, or tucking them in, ready for a bedtime story can provide some of the most precious moments of your day. Not only is story time a great bonding time, reading to your baby also has many developmental benefits. And, surprisingly, it’s never too early to start…
Once upon a time… reading to your newborn
Although a newborn can’t yet understand words, they can recognise and be soothed, lulled and comforted by your voice. Story time is a wonderful way to bond with your brand-new baby and this can also be a great time for you to sit down relax and enjoy cuddles in these frenetic first few months.
Start off with simple, rhythmic books with large, high-contrast pictures that your baby can see from a distance.
At first, you may feel a little silly reading to your newborn especially as there is hardly any engagement at this stage, but with daily practice, the awkwardness should disappear. Very soon, as your tiny dot grows, your words will be rewarded with a smile or a giggle.
Chapter 1 - two to six months
At this stage, babies begin to focus on objects, including books with bright colours. They may start to follow simple pictures with their eyes and even try to reach out and grasp at the pages. Though they won’t understand the content, your baby is learning about sounds, voices, and the rhythm of language.
Try touching their tiny fingers to the pages as you read to encourage exploration. If you feel comfortable, continue to change your voice for different characters or actions and watch them begin to engage with you.
Chapter 2 - six to 12 months
When they reach this age, your beautiful baby will be much more aware of the world around them. They can grasp and hold books and may even start to mimic turning pages. They’ll enjoy books that feature familiar objects or animals, as well as interactive books with textures, flaps, or mirrors.
Point to objects and name them to expand their vocabulary. Encourage them to turn the pages, helping develop motor skills.
Chapter 3 - storytelling with toddlers
As your toddler starts to speak, reading helps expand their vocabulary as well as introducing them to simple story structures. They might also begin to understand the basic concept of stories and may enjoy play acting the story. This is also a great time to head to your local library, which may even host a toddler group story time.
Now you can begin to ask your toddler questions about the story – what do you think the dog is doing here? Which is your favourite cake on the page, what’s going to happen next? Point to familiar objects on the pages and say their names, encouraging word association.
As your toddler develops more advanced language skills, they may ask for certain books again and again. This repetition is important for building familiarity with language patterns and story structure.
Tips for Successful Reading
- Make it a daily routine: Even if it’s just for a few minutes each day, consistency is key.
- Follow their lead: If your baby is more interested in touching the book or looking at the pictures than listening to the words, that’s okay!
- Be patient: Your baby might not sit through an entire book at first, and that’s perfectly normal. Over time, their attention span will grow.
A happy ending
By reading with your little one from birth, you are encouraging bonding, building their vocabulary, and feeding their imagination. You are fostering a love of books and storytelling that will hopefully stay with them for life. Happy reading.
