At almost ten months old, my kid would rather chew his books than be read to. I can’t say he cares much about books yet, although he occasionally turns pages and feels the textures. When did your children develop a love of reading and books?
I’m a librarian. While I specialize in adult literature, I researched children’s reading habits in grad school. I strongly advocate for letting young children interact with books freely, even if they put them in their mouths (safely, of course). Reading to your child significantly impacts their future literacy and connects to many other skills.
As your child grows, find books they enjoy—graphic novels are just as valuable as classics. The key is fostering a love for reading. It’s also important for children to see their parents reading. Lastly, engage with them about their reading! Discuss what’s happening in the book, why characters act a certain way, what they predict will happen next, and why. These conversations build critical thinking and enhance reading comprehension.
If we “read,” my 5-month-old is scared and begins to cry. We’ve stopped and I’ll try again in six months since I feel that he doesn’t like it when his mother changes her voice and I’m simply there to make it more interesting.
@Whitney I laughed aloud at that! Infants make the funniest things. I hope you have success next month!