How to Read to a Baby For Language Development

When most parents read to their babies, they want to hold the child in their laps so that he can see the pictures. However, it's just as important for language development for the baby to see the parent's face while reading.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Book
• Bouncy chair
• Willing baby

1. When reading to your baby, she will learn considerably more if she can see both your face and the book, so find a setup where this is possible. The easiest way is to put the baby in a bouncy chair and read next to her, creating a triangle between you, the baby and the book.

2. Annunciate as you read, and use different voices for different emotions. This is an opportunity to overact and show with your face whether it is a happy moment or a scary moment in the book. Your baby will likely take some interest in the story, but will be more fascinated by the storyteller.

3. By watching your face and the way your lips form words, the baby will gain important elements in early language development. You may notice your baby trying to make the same sounds or the same facial expressions. Take time to pause from the story to repeat a portion if the baby tries to mimic it.

4. Even when a child is only a few months old, he is learning that the story is coming from the book instead of you. It is important for your baby to see you reading the words off the page, and flipping the pages left to right. This provides a very basic understanding of how reading works.

5. Finishing the story is not important. If your baby wants to move on to something else, that's ok. Find the right times to read with your baby and never force your child to listen to a story if she doesn't want to. Reading should be associated with fun, not obligation.

Tips & Warnings

• If the baby reaches for the book, allow him to hold it, turn the pages or lick it. It's OK if your baby doesn't concentrate on your face the entire time.
• From the first few months, your baby will express interest in different things; balloons, animals, balloon animals. Try to find a story that relates to her interests. Hearing the word associated with the object she likes offers the child a basic understanding of language.
• Never force your baby to listen to a story if he doesn't want to. It should never feel like a punishment. Always keep it fun, and really go overboard physically with the telling of it.

[Soren]

on 2/13/2008 Thanks, cconnell.

[cconnell]

on 2/6/2008 Check your spelling!

[CCrock]

on 12/13/2007 Great article. I find reading to my baby after feedings is a great time, she is alert, calm and interested in the book. Board books are great because babies can "inspect" them without wrecking it.

[CCrock]

on 12/13/2007 Great article. I find reading to my baby after feedings is a great time, she is alert, calm and interested in the book. Board books are great because babies can "inspect" them without wrecking it.