Why Reading to Your Baby or Toddler is Important and How to Choose the Best Books
Did you know that children whose parents read to them daily are exposed to over 290,000 more words by the age of 5 than those who are not read to regularly?
It’s true! Children who are read to daily hear about 296,660 words by their fifth birthday, compared to the about 4,662 words heard by those who are not read to daily.
Reading has so many developmental benefits. Daily reading increases a child’s vocabulary by exposing them to more words, more complex words, and words they don’t normally hear in their day-to-day. Reading also develops children’s imagination and supports their social skills by exposing them to different social scenarios. Lastly, reading builds early literacy skills, strongly predicts academic success, and increases the chance that children will read on their own later on.
Knowing what books to look for when supporting early communicators can be tough. Thankfully, I have ✨ expert tips ✨ to make shopping easier. For children under 5, look for …
Books with bright, colorful, simple, and engaging pictures.
These help grab and keep your little one’s attention without overwhelming them.
Books with a simple storyline.
Wordless picture books like “Good Dog, Carl!” are also great!
Books with a song, rhymes, and repeated text.
They help your little one build their anticipation skills, make them feel like they’re reading along, and allow them to participate by “filling in the blank”.
Books with interactive components.
Interactive and sensory components like flaps, textures, and patterns to keep your little one engaged.
Books that match your child’s interest.
Children learn best when they’re interested in something - whether it is vehicles, dinosaurs, trains, etc.
If you need month-by-month shopping and reading tips, I’ve created a ✨ full-length ✨ book guide just for you! Download this FREE resource here! This guide includes:
6 tips for supporting early language skills during book reading
6 tips for creating a language and literacy-rich environment using books
a guide for shopping for books as your little one grows (from birth to 24+ months)
a shoppable list of my favorite baby-toddler books
If these tips were helpful, join the newsletter to get easy tips and encouragement delivered directly to your inbox!
Further Reading:
