Instilling the Love of Reading in Babies

You are not alone if your initial response to the title of this article is one of skepticism, for it inevitably points to the whole theory of babies being able to read. It’s not a very common opinion that teaching a baby to read is possible, but the fact remains that it’s highly likely to happen by default even, provided the little one is surrounded by a literacy rich environment! Read on…

Make use of the Window of Opportunity

Babies have an advantage over the rest of us. They have a rapidly developing brain which allows them to effortlessly learn and absorb mass amounts of information from birth right up to the age of five. This period of intense brain development has been dubbed as “Critical Period” or the “Window of Opportunity”. Whatever you may call it, consider it the ideal time to introduce practically anything you want a baby to learn. Skills, such as learning to read, are acquired with the least amount of effort during these periods. Yes, you can, if you want to, teach your baby to read!

The human brain grows and strengthens through use. By stimulating your baby’s brain, you are assisting in the development the brain and its connections called synapses. These are all very important in the development of your child’s intellect. How does this correspond to babies learning to read? Well, just imagine: If babies can pick up their own mother tongue easily from birth, it means they can also pick up the love of written words, provided that they are given adequate exposure.

The road to reading starts in infancy

Babies acquire a love of words, an excitement about storytelling, and the wonder of sharing their thoughts with loved ones using words. Parents play an integral role in nurturing the interest of reading through activities that build these skills and interests.

The power of a baby’s surroundings

Consider for a moment a five year old, for example, who seems to be a chatterbox and simply cannot stop talking! There is a very likely chance that this child was brought up in a household where family members (or people close to the child) are talkative individuals. From an environment such as this, repetition is inevitable, and so is learning of new words, pronunciations, meaning of words, etc. While situations such as this very likely came about by default owing to the surroundings the child was exposed to, imagine how much more that child will learn if deliberate steps were taken to impart other languages into the scene.

That same theory can be played with when it comes to teaching a baby to read. A fun literacy-rich environment, a relaxed and laid-back attitude, and an absolutely non-competitive mindset can spell incredible learning opportunities for a baby and may just do the trick!

It doesn’t matter, really, if you believe it or not, but surely there can’t be any harm in giving it a go. So, here are some pointers which we hope will help out interested parents!

01. Label things

As you go along your day with baby, caring and doting on him or her, make a point of saying the little one’s name clearly. Also, call out baby’s body parts, items of clothes, and everything else that the both of you come to contact with on a daily basis. Baby might take some time to make the connections, but rest assured that you’re taking crucial steps to building the basics of language and literacy.

02. Use colorful picture books!

When your baby can sit up comfortably, which will be around six months of age, you can begin to introduce books. Make that picture books with attractive, colorful images that will help capture the little one’s attention! It is important to remember though, that babies, won’t necessarily take to this experience right away, so you might have to be patient and give baby some time. Also, keep in mind that babies generally have very short attention span, so watch for signs that baby has had enough and close the book. The main thing to keep in mind is, each interaction with the open picture book, no matter how brief it may be, helps to foster the love of books.

03. Turning pages – look, point, then name

Infant and babies who are regularly read to will sooner or later try to turn the pages of the book themselves, as they’ve seen it being done by mom or dad over and over again. This alone shows that they have been paying attention during those reading sessions! You can be sure that your baby is looking at all those pictures, so don’t forget to deliberately point to them and name each image. You will find that in time, your baby will attempt to imitate you and begin ‘naming’ those images too.

04. Give books for every occasion

Standby an interesting, attractive book for every occasion! Book stores these days are packed with all sorts of books made specially for babies and young children! Had a great day with baby at the park? Did baby enjoy the car ride today? Did baby seem happy to play with a new friend today? Pay a visit to your local bookstore and pick out as many topics you think would make interesting and likely ‘reflections’ during reading times with your baby. Sit down with new books together and ‘discuss’ the connections.

05. Tell beddy-bye stories

Make stories, both those read aloud and the ones you tell, part of the bedtime ritual from infancy on. Also, as your baby grows, resist omitting this bedtime story-time together as a form of punishment. Story time is time to spend with you, and that should be kept sacred, no matter what.

06. Pack a book

The habit of filling in life’s spaces with books and always having them handy helps a child see them as a regular part of life. To help achieve this, pack a book or two in your little one’s diaper bag and/or keep a couple of books in the car. Change or rotate those books regularly to keep it interesting and fresh.