I love reading to my son. As he gets older he continues to become more and more interested in books and even seems to have some favorites.
Reading to toddlers is so important. Here are 10 tips to get the most out of the time you spend reading.
Every Day - Read to your toddler every day. Some days my son will sit and let me read to him for 15 minutes, some days its only 5 minutes. That's okay. Read every day, even if it's only for a few minutes.
Have Fun – Make reading time fun. It should be a time that your little one looks forward to everyday.
Pictures – Talk about the pictures. You do not have to read every word to tell the story.
Turn Pages – Let your child turn the pages. This will help him feel like he is involved with the reading.
Cover Page – Show your little one the cover and talk about what the book is about.
Fingers – Run your fingers along the words as you read them so your little one gets used to the idea that the words on the page match what you are saying.
Move Around – Let your little one move around while you are reading.
Names – Say the names of the pictures. This is a great way for your toddler to learn new vocabulary words.
Read the Environment – Read labels and signs wherever you go so that your toddler starts to understand that words are all around us.
Likes: Reading the same book over and over again, reading a book at bedtime, to choose and hold the book, books about food, animals, trucks and children, and books with few words.
Here are 10 of my favorite books to read to my one year old:
The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster - A little girl loves going to her Nanna and Poppy's house because their kitchen window is a magical portal to a world of discovery and imagination, in a delightful story that celebrates childhood and the love of family. The warm drawings and text make this a must have book. This book portrays a loving family, and readers of all ages will be touched by their gentle interactions.
A Good Day by Kevin Henkes - What can turn a bad day into a good day? A great lesson in a beautiful toddler book. This is a beautifully illustrated book for toddlers and weaves an uplifting lesson.
Dog by Matthew Van Fleet - A wonderful interactive book about dogs, dogs, and more dogs, that will help you teach your little ones about colors and much more. Pat the puppies, make them move, love them all. This is a wonderful book for any dog lover.
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown - A little rabbit who wants to run away tells his mother how he will escape, but she is always right behind him. Sweet imaginative story makes little ones feel safe. This book is a rhythmic, sweet exchange between a mother bunny and her little bunny.
Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt - The original classic touch and feel book that has been entertaining babies for over 60 years. Enduring classic toddlers love to pat, scratch and sniff. This interactive book is a classic loved by generations.
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney - During a bedtime game, every time Little Nutbrown Hare demonstrates how much he loves his father, Big Nutbrown Hare gently shows him that the love is returned even more. Sentimental bunny tale tugs on the heartstrings. The delicately hued watercolors skillfully convey the simple tale’s tender message.
Birds by Kevin Henkes - Fascinated by the colors, shapes, sounds, and movements of the many different birds she sees through her window, a little girl is happy to discover that she and they have something in common. Simple story, striking art make this picture book soar. This striking book is perfect for cuddling up with your toddler and exploring the magic of birds.
Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr. - Ten little caterpillars are on the move in this fun new counting book. Vibrant counting book doubles as a field guide. This colorful counting book offers a lot to dig into and can even serve as a simple field guide for kids eager to explore.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin - A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck, all parade across the pages of this delightful book. Classic delights toddlers with bright colors, gently rhymes. The repetitive structure helps teach colors to very young children and encourages pre-readers to read along with the simple text.
The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton - Hop aboard this boisterous boat filled with animals and watch as they go about their many activities while on their sea adventure, in a lively bedtime collection of tales for preschoolers featuring elephants, dogs, moose, and lions. Sweet, silly board book makes bedtime fun and cozy. This is a sweet, funny look at children’s bedtime routine.
