It's never too early to begin reading to your baby. In fact, the sooner you start reading to her, the better.
Not only do babies love the cuddle time while being read to by Mom or Dad, children who are read to score higher on IQ tests than those who aren't—partly because children who are read to are exposed to more words. And that exposure can take place from the very beginning.
Here are some great ideas about getting the most out of reading time.
When should I start?
Dr. Olene Walker, Utah's past governor, says about reading to
children: "We must begin reading with children from the moment they
come home from the hospital. Even a newborn will enjoy hearing the
sound of your voice and being held in your lap" (Walker
5).
Newborns recognize their parents' voices at
birth. A one-day-old baby will turn towards his mother's or father's
voice and prefer their voices to anyone else's.
Just
hearing you speak can be comforting to baby, and reading time can
become a time when baby feels secure.
Rhythm
Rhythm forms the roots of language. Infants first hear rhythm, not
individual words. Nursery rhymes and songs are soothing to
them.
Some parents notice their babies will
actually rock back and forth to nursery rhymes and hold more still for
other types of reading.
Make up songs or
rhymes, or "Find a nursery rhyme book that is fun for you to read"
("Teachers").
Keep reading time fun
Make reading time a fun time. It should be a time you can relax with
your baby. Don't worry if it's short, just try to get a little reading
in every day.
Point to the pictures as you
read, the day your baby's chubby finger lands right on a ladybug after
you say it will come quicker than you think.
Let
yourself read in an animated way. Babies attend better to large swings
in pitch, so "baby talk" away!
Take Your Pick
Enjoy this time when you are in total control of your child's media choices! In order to keep reading time fun, choose things that you want to read. Picking out children's books and nursery rhyme books you enjoy is a great idea. Have favorites from when you were a kid? Now's your chance!
A Touching Experience
Remember "Pat the Bunny" by Dorothy Kunhardt? Having books that allow your child to touch can be a lot of fun. Watch that little balled up fist stretch out and explore! Remember, too, that pop-up books and such may be destroyed in the process of being loved by your baby, so your treasured copy might be best saved for later.
Recipes, Scriptures, And More!
On page 424 of Anna Karenina? Read some out loud to your baby. Doing your scripture study? Again, read out loud if you'd like. It's not important what you read, but that you read to your baby. So couple up and read the latest issue of your favorite cooking magazine to her. She'll love being close to you and hearing the sound of your voice.
Simple
After about six months babies may start to pick out individual words and connect them with objects. Choosing books with simple pictures might be fun, see if you notice your baby starting to understand what "sun" and "dog" are!
Chewed, Torn, And Loved
Remember that babies can't be trusted to pay their library fines. You may want to own your own sturdy books that baby can really "explore" by chewing, drooling on, and otherwise mutilating. There may be good inexpensive books at thrift stores or at garage sales. Fabric books are fun for this reason as well.
Reading to your baby can be one of the very best ways to bond with her. Reading to her will also increase her IQ and ability to interact with others.
So cuddle up, grab any reading material you want, and start reading!
Sources
Walker, Ardith. "What First Grade Teachers Wish Parents Would Teach
Their Kids." Unpublished article.
Walker, Olene
S. "Read With a Child." Bonneville Bookmark Summer 2004: 4-5.