Is your baby ready for books?
It's important for children to develop a love for books and reading, and it's never too soon to start. PBS Parents reminds parents to "read to your child for 15 minutes a day," and offers the following tips for baby's first year:
Birth - 3 months: During early infancy, a baby's stories should be nursery rhymes and lullabies. The repetition and rhythmic sounds are calming, especially for newborns.
4 - 5 months: At this age, the baby is interested in books mainly because they're objects that she can touch, grab, or chew. Introduce sturdy board books or soft cloth books that the baby can manipulate with little fingers.
6 - 12 months: Babies at this age begin to show an interest in what's actually inside the book. Whether or not you read the words isn't important, nor does it matter if you can never get through an entire story. Babies at this age are sometimes more content to look at the books page-by-page while you talk to her about the pictures.
12 - 18 months: Reading now becomes more interactive. Your one-year-old will turn pages and point to familiar objects. Babies love books with flaps that they can peek under and books like Pat the Bunny which they can touch and sniff while you read. This is the appropriate age for establishing a regular reading routine. You may find that you read the same book over and over again - and that's okay!
Reading together from a very young age is a great way to encourage a lifelong love of reading. For fun, cost-effective learning tricks for your little ones, check out A half dozen super-saving educational activities.
Birth - 3 months: During early infancy, a baby's stories should be nursery rhymes and lullabies. The repetition and rhythmic sounds are calming, especially for newborns.
4 - 5 months: At this age, the baby is interested in books mainly because they're objects that she can touch, grab, or chew. Introduce sturdy board books or soft cloth books that the baby can manipulate with little fingers.
6 - 12 months: Babies at this age begin to show an interest in what's actually inside the book. Whether or not you read the words isn't important, nor does it matter if you can never get through an entire story. Babies at this age are sometimes more content to look at the books page-by-page while you talk to her about the pictures.
12 - 18 months: Reading now becomes more interactive. Your one-year-old will turn pages and point to familiar objects. Babies love books with flaps that they can peek under and books like Pat the Bunny which they can touch and sniff while you read. This is the appropriate age for establishing a regular reading routine. You may find that you read the same book over and over again - and that's okay!
Reading together from a very young age is a great way to encourage a lifelong love of reading. For fun, cost-effective learning tricks for your little ones, check out A half dozen super-saving educational activities. 
