Develop Your Child's Love for Reading

So when can you start developing your baby's love of reading? Probably during pregnancy. Evidence shows that babies who are read to while still in utero can be very calmed by reading times after birth. Reading to baby while in utero also get s baby used to voices and introduces him or her to language at its earliest stages.

Once baby is born nursery rhymes and lyrical songs, short phrases, and little poems are great for catching little ones attention. This also helps develop early vocabulary. Looking at books with simple pictures and pointing out objects is a great one to get baby interested in books at this stage. As baby gets older leafing through baby books and pointing out objects is another great way to build on vocabulary.

Bedtime is an excellent time to get in some reading with your child. It can be very relaxing and is a great bonding experience. Experts say that reading to your child for 15 minutes a day will greatly increase his reading abilities as he gets older and also develop the love for reading. Try all different types of books not just gender specific books. Surprisingly my daughters favorite books were ones about Bugs and dinosaurs!

Look into your local Library for programs. Many public libraries offer reading programs for infants through adults. My Library had Song and Story time starting at 6 months. The children sang, read stories, learned rhyming games and songs, and even some sign language. The presenters always had little finger puppets and props to go along with the stories and it was an excellent way to keep the children's attention. As children got older there was a Toddler and Mommy Story time, which was structured much the same as the infant class. Continuing up the scale there is also a preschool class, a school age class, and then various programs for older kids and adults.

Throughout the year the Library also offers "special" programs and has characters from favorite children's books, reading budding where younger children and older children pair up. All have been great programs in my daughters development.

Obviously, there may be some Libraries that do not offer such programs, but maybe some of these ideas could be suggested. Programs such as reading budding with younger children and older children pairing up can be of no cost to the Library, it would just need some Community interest.

When your child expresses interest in reading a book, then take the time to share that book with your child (age appropriate of course). As your child begins school express interest in what they are reading and as they begin reading have your child read to you. It's a great way to work on those reading skills, but what a confidence builder too!!

Above all, reading with your child should be a fun experience, so enjoy some quality time!