Some wonder about the value of reading with a baby, but it really is an important thing to do. As a parent or grandparent or neighbor, you are the one who makes it fun and educational.
Babies love to be involved in the games you play with them and that includes when you are reading to them. One game babies like is “Pat-A-Cake, Pat-A-Cake,” which most of us remember as “Patty Cake, Patty Cake.” Remember, when you play this to clap your baby’s hands together over and over as you chant “pat a cake, pat a cake, baker’s man” and gently do the motions with his hands as you get to the part about “pat it and prick it and mark it with B.”
When you get to the end, be sure to shout “Yeah!”
Remember “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star?” If you don’t remember it, check out the version on the computer. It will be there. Say it to him frequently enough that he becomes familiar with it. Show him the stars at night and then tell him the poem.
What about “Hickory Dickory Dock?” Or “Humpty Dumpty?” These are both fun ones to say with him. Say it enough and he will begin to say parts of these to you or at least the first line.
There are many other games you can play and songs you can sing to a baby. Check out www.craigmillarbooksforbabies.org.uk or nursery rhyme songs or books on the computer to remind yourself of some of the other fun rhymes for babies.
Besides playing games, just reading together gives you a chance to cuddle together, discover that books are fun, help him learn to be a good listener, and share beautiful art together. That is a lot to get from reading to a baby.
Remember to talk about the pictures in the book. Help him pay attention to all the positives he can get from reading a book.
Babies enjoy this calm time reading with you. Reading, rocking, and cuddling calms him and helps him associate reading with love and contentment. Make sure you take a book with you wherever you go.
See what books are his favorites. Let him pick out which ones you will read and talk about. See if he can remember the book to talk about it with you later.
Page-turning tips
The way to encourage your child to become a reader starts now. There are three things you can do to encourage reading that make a huge difference.
1. Model reading to your child. Find a book for yourself. When he sees you reading, you are teaching him to enjoy reading.
2. Have books available for your child to read. Books do not have to be purchased. The library is a great source of books. You can also join us at First Teacher each Monday at 10 a.m. at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club (400 W. Fir St.); your child will receive a free book and you will enjoy meeting other children and parents.
3. Free up time for reading. Limit TV viewing and playing with the telephone and you will be surprised how much time your child at any age might have to read.
As a parent, you are teaching your child new lessons of life each day. Helen Hayes said it beautifully when she said, “From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot before the other. But when books are opened, you discover you have wings.”
Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and former executive director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which publishes newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents. To reach First Teacher Executive Director Patty Waite, email patty@firstteacher.org or call 360-681-2250.
