In most cases, when you discover that you’re about to be a new parent, Google becomes your new best friend and number one resource of birth and new parenting tips. From what you can and can’t eat to questions like ‘at what stage does the baby start to move’ were some of my Google tasks during my pregnancy. One of the things that came up was the importance of books and reading for kids at an early age, which I must confess, I did not give enough attention as I did with WHY I cannot eat seafood, or have coffee during pregnancy! Some sources recommended reading for your baby while still in the womb, while others suggest reading from four months when they start being active and curious.
Either way, introducing babies to books has been found to play an important role in language and literacy development. Yep, as early as four months, books spark baby’s imagination, stimulate curiosity and wait for it – this one blew my mind – encourage focus and concentration and helps develop their communication skills. When I read about these, all I could think of were those missed opportunities to sharpen my little one’s focus and concentration skills…two elements that are critical in the times of Zoom classes and home-schooling! Mamas and papas will know what I’m talking about here, right?!
On a serious note, a study led by a professor at The Ohio State University in the US found that kids who are read, at least one book a day will hear about 290 000 more words by the time they turn five than their peers whom their parents do not read to them. This is believed to be a factor in explaining differences in vocabulary and reading development among kids. The study further argues that kids that read regularly with their parents are likely to pick up reading skills easily and quickly. I know this is some serious literature review! Please forgive me! But I hope it gives you some perspective on the good that reading has on your little one.
Choice of Books
Should you buy just any book for your baby or toddler? A simple answer is NO! What I mean is that you can’t, at 12 months, introduce your baba to Harry Potter kind of books yet (I mean, I don’t have the literature to back this up, but for me, it sounds a bit too heavy). Because babies and toddlers are generally curious, you want to introduce them to books with less writing and more pictures and textures that they can point to and attempt to name. You also want to choose books with a board like pages, so you won’t have to worry about pages getting ripped. It is also very important that when reading to them you use different emotions and expressive sounds as this is said to support their social and emotional development.
So, as you prepare to read to and with your little one, remember that you are giving them a head start in literacy skills and most importantly, you are setting a solid foundation for independent reading at a later stage in their lives.
Check out Twinkle Bunnies MY FIRST READ gift box for great books that you can introduce to your baby!
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