Reading to your baby is fun and beneficial too
Reading to your baby is a fun activity – for the little one and the parents too. Incorporating it into the daily routine makes sure your baby gets a valuable lesson – books are fun. When do you start? There is no specific time, anytime around two-four months is a good option.
Where do you get the right baby books? Anywhere you want to – pick them up from the nearby baby store, shop online, find them at the local library. The resources you used for locating parenting books can come to use in this situation too.
Here are a few simple dos and don’ts that make reading to babies an enjoyable, and beneficial, activity.
Make sure different books are available, and that too within easy reach at all times. Let your baby feel the books, and let your baby have them when he/she can hold it. Be it during a bath or before a nap, keep a book handy.
Stock up on the right books, and ensure they have interesting characteristics. Big board books, big pictures, repetitive text work well for babies. Opt for baby books with different textures, pop-ups, cutouts and such other features to hold attention.
Do not get mad if your baby throws, sits, chews, or spoils a book in any other way. Your little one tries to find out more about new objects by these tactics. Grabbing, throwing, sitting, chewing, and such activities let your baby get accustomed to books.
Always let your little one lead when reading. Let your baby pick out a book, even if you have read it a hundred times. Do not read if your baby is cranky or does not pay attention. Going back to it later is a much better idea.
Your enthusiasm is important, and losing it would have the same effect on the baby. Your baby does not understand every word in the book. He/she listens to your voice, looks at the scribbles, and the images, and tries to figure it out. Make animated voices, funny sounds, and silly faces when you read – your baby is sure to have fun.