How early should I start reading to my child?
By Eunice Torralba, Researcher
Do you love reading books to your child? Reading aloud books to children, especially at an early age, can develop their memory and improve vocabulary and attention span. One of the common questions asked by parents is, at what age can they introduce books to their children? Is it too early to start reading to them? Don’t worry because here are some helpful indicators showing if your child is advanced or late in reading:
For Babies:
Even at an early age, starting at four months, babies can love books by reading aloud while holding the book close to them. Since babies at this age to 15 months old have active senses, it is important to choose books that will let them explore using their senses.
At this age,
They are attracted to pictures and bold colors and want to feel the textures of books. So, as you read to them, you should let them try holding the book and turning the pages.
They start identifying the objects you name from the book.
They like hearing your voice when you read to them.
For effective tips for reading aloud to babies, check out this article here.
For Toddlers:
As they become toddlers, they now know how to hold a book. Some books to consider for them are those with rhyming, silly, or repeating words, as it will make reading a more fun activity. Also, it is important to interact with them by letting them guess what happens next to the story or even listening and answering their questions when you’re reading to them.
At this age,
They start to become familiar with the book cover and want to keep reading the same book,
become more curious about things they see and read, and
start to have a longer attention span.
For Preschoolers
You should allow them to pick a story and make it fun! Preschoolers love listening to creative ways of reading to them, such as using silly voices or even using gestures in relation to what they are reading.
At this age,
They already have the ability to listen to longer stories. Your child's attention span will develop longer as you read more.
Their vocabulary and communication skills are developing. So, you can see that they like to read when they ask or answer questions, comment on the story, and retell it.
Introducing books to your child at an early age develops their cognitive skills and can also be a good way of spending time with them. It is also important to consider the types of books appropriate for your child’s age and to guide them as they develop their communication and reading skills.
Here at The Learning Library, we offer online reading comprehension lessons for ages 4-17. Our programs are based not just on age but also on the assessed level of the student. It is never too early to start introducing books to your child and make them love reading! To learn more about our programs and reading tutorial classes kids, you may e-mail us at inquiries@learninglibraries.com or call us at 09178282669.
