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Throughout our lives, my parents have told my sister and I that they read to us every night from the first night we were home from the hospital. When I got to grad school and was researching literacy practices, I wasn’t surprised to find out that reading aloud to children from the very beginning is a large factor in getting children to enjoy reading. My sister and I are both avid readers (thanks Mom and Dad!). People no longer like to help us move because the amount of books is ridiculous. It was important to me that I continue this practice with my daughter. I read the same book to her on her first night home that my parents read to us (One Minute Fairy Tales by Shari Lewis).

I have been reading to my daughter every day for 16 months now. We read a story every night before bed, and she brings me books throughout the day to read. She likes to turn the pages and she interacts with the stories that we have read over and over. One of her favorite stories is the 3 Little Pigs. I figured this would be a fun story to read aloud to her because I can act out the huffing and puffing of the wolf, and sing the song “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf”. It turns out her favorite part is the “slap, slosh, slap” sound that the bricks make when the third little pig is building his house. Who would have thought? She also likes to knock on the book when the wolf knocks on the door. Watching her interact with the story and pick up on the tiniest details makes me enjoy our story time even more.

How do I get started?

You may be thinking, “But VIcki, my baby doesn’t understand what I am reading!” or, “My toddler won’t sit still for a whole book!”. These may very well be true, but that is okay! The lessons they are learning and the experiences you are having are making a mark on them. Your baby may not be able to understand the story that you are telling them, but they are learning how to handle books. They may interact with the colors in the illustrations, or they may just be soothed by the sound of your voice. Check out my post on best books to share with your babies for more tips and recommendations!

In regards to reading to toddlers, the same lessons apply. They may not have a full understanding of the stories that you are reading, but they are picking up on more than you realize. Reading together teaches them that reading is important, and that it is a relaxing activity that should be enjoyed. It also teaches them how to handle books properly, and starts to provide them with an understanding of how they work. Even if they get up and walk away while you are reading, they are still learning from the experience. If you are frustrated from trying to corral a rambunctious toddler into reading with you, check out my post on 5 things that experts don’t tell you about reading.

Some tips on reading aloud:

• Use simple books with textured pages when reading to babies. My daughter loved feeling all of the textures in the book Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings by Matthew Van Fleet.
• Let your child turn the pages when it is time. I mentioned this as a tip from Jim Trelease, but I have found that letting my daughter turn the page has kept her engaged from a very young age.
• Don’t force your child to sit and listen to the end of the book if she brings you a book then walks away while you are reading it. My daughter brings me books all day long. Sometimes she actually wants me to read them, and sometimes she decides a couple pages in that she would rather do something else. I have given up and set the book aside on occasion. I have also finished reading it out loud whether she was sitting with me or not.
• Read more than books to them. When you are in the grocery store, point to words on packaging. Have older kids point out words that they recognize. While you are driving, have them point out words on street signs. Every time you interact with words in the world, you are showing them that reading is important.

Make your read aloud special

• Let your child choose which book they want to read. If they want to read the same book every single night, then let them! I have now read Llama Llama Red Pajama  by Anna Dewdney every single night for 3 weeks. But my daughter loves it! She picks up more of the book every time we read it.
• Make reading time a special time. My daughter knows that we will read a story every night before bed. She curls up on my lap with her stuffed animal and we cover up with a blanket. I let her pick the story (usually between two books I have already picked ahead of time. I’m not going to start a huge book if it’s already past her bedtime!).
• For older kids, let them take over part of the read aloud. I remember bringing home books from the library as a child and my parents letting me read to them. I felt so special being the one to read the book to them.

Learning from the experts

Jim Trelease’s Read Aloud Handbook is a well known authority on the topic of reading aloud to children and how the practice can develop a love of reading. It was required reading for me in grad school, and for good reason. One of my professors stated that she believed every parent should be given this book when they take their baby home from the hospital. Jim Trelease’s website offers free brochures about the importance of reading aloud to kids and things to do while reading. His list of 30 Read Aloud DOs include some great tips that are easy to incorporate into your read aloud routine with your kids. (He suggests letting them turn the page when it is time, reading the author and illustrator names before beginning the story, etc.).

Reading to your kids is an important factor in helping them to develop a love of reading throughout their lives. It can become an important part of your relationship and a precious memory that they will carry with them forever. There are so many ways to engage children of all ages in reading aloud. Start them on the path of becoming a bookworm for life!