What I Did:
I started reading with and to my baby when she was just a few weeks old. When she started to have more alert awake times during the day, I wasn't sure what to do with her, so I started to read.
How I Did It:
I often read poems from Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. It is one of my all-time favorites and fun to read aloud. I also introduced simple board books. She especially liked those with baby faces and single words.
Lessons Learned
- It is never too early to read with your child!
- Let babies handle and chew on books. That is how they explore.
- Give them sturdy board books that can stand up to little fingers.
- My children always liked touch-and-feel books or books that made noises too.
Elizabeth Kennedy, Children's Books Guide, says:
I love the photo. It shows that mom and dad don't have to be the only family members reading to the baby. I think it's great you chose a book of poems - Where the Sidewalk Ends - that you enjoy to share with your baby. I also like your reference to "reading with and to my baby." It's not just reading to your child that's important; it's sharing and interacting with your child and books.Your mention of chewing on books reminded me of the importance of not letting the baby chew too much. When my grandson was a baby, in just minutes, he chewed the corner of the cover of a board book to the point that the front and back layers of cardboard separated and what looked like tiny pieces of styrofoam started falling out. I was relieved to find he didn't have any of them in his mouth! Thanks for sharing.
