Reading Books to Babies

Reading aloud to your baby is a wonderful shared activity you can continue for years to come and it's important for your baby's brain.

Reading aloud:

• teaches a baby about communication
• introduces concepts such as numbers, letters, colours, and shapes in a fun way
• builds listening, memory, and vocabulary skills
• gives babies information about the world around them

By the time babies reach their first birthday they will have learned all the sounds needed to speak their native language. The more stories you read aloud, the more words your baby will hear and the better they'll be able to talk.

Hearing words helps to build a rich network of words in a baby's brain. Kids whose parents talk and read to them often know more words by age two than children who have not been read to. Kids who are read to during their early years are more likely to learn to read at the right time.

But perhaps the most important reason to read aloud is that it makes a connection between the things your baby loves the most, your voice and closeness to you, and books.

Books for babies should have simple, repetitive, and familiar text and clear pictures. During the first few months of life, your child just likes to hear your voice. So you can read almost anything, especially books with a sing-song or rhyming text. As your baby gets more interested in looking at things, choose books with simple pictures against solid backgrounds.

As your baby begins to grab, you can read vinyl or cloth books that have faces, bright colours, and shapes. When your baby begins to respond to what's inside the books, add board books with pictures of babies or familiar objects like toys. When your baby starts to do things like sit up in the bathtub or eat finger foods, find simple stories about daily routines like bedtime or bathtime. When your child starts talking, choose books that let babies repeat simple words or phrases.

Books with mirrors and different textures (crinkly, soft, scratchy) are also great for this age group. So are fold-out books you can prop up, or books with flaps that open for a surprise. Board books make page turning easier for infants, and vinyl or cloth books can go everywhere, even the bath. Babies of any age like photo albums with pictures of people they know and love. And babies love nursery rhymes!

One of the best ways to make sure that your little one grows up to be a reader is to have books around your house. 

Besides the books you own, you also can borrow from the library. Many libraries have story time for babies too and other great activities. Don't forget to pick up a book for yourself while you're there!

Special thanks to Louise in IT for this lovely image of her nephew.