What is the practice?
Infants first become interested in books when adults enthusiastically help them learn to enjoy looking at pictures of people, objects, and other things they see day in and day out. Imagine a child looking at things that are familiar, fun, and interesting and you’ll have a good idea of why book reading can become so enjoyable.
What does the practice look like?
A baby sitting on an adult’s lap is looking at a board book with pictures of different animals. The baby reaches and pats a picture of a baby animal. The parent says in a gleeful way, “Yes, you see the kitty!” The baby looks at another page. Again, the baby reaches and touches the picture, and the parent describes what the baby sees. The back-and-forth play between the infant and the adult gets the baby more and more excited.
How do you do the practice?
There are many different ways to introduce books to your baby. Try these simple steps to help your child learn the joys of books.
How do you know the practice worked?
- Is your child attending longer and longer during the reading times?
- Does your child reach, pat, or point at the pictures?
- Does your child recognize things she has seen before by smiling and getting excited?
- Start by identifying the things your child enjoys looking at. This can be pictures of baby faces, photographs of familiar people, animal board books, books of familiar objects, or anything your child seems to like.
- There are many ways to introduce books to your child. Board books and other commercially available books can be especially engaging. Public libraries often have books for infants that can be borrowed. Try making a book. Small photo albums are especially good for showing an infant pictures of familiar people, objects, and activities. Search the Web using how to make books for babies and you’ll find many helpful ideas.
- It is best to introduce a book to your baby when she is alert and attentive. Nestle your child in your lap or prop her against your arm in a snuggling position. If your child does not like to be held, use an infant seat or prop her in a sitting position in the corner of an armchair using pillows.
- Show your child the book and point at the picture on a page while naming the picture. Follow your child’s lead. Describe in short sentences what she is looking at or touching. “Book reading” times should be like a game of give-and-take. You do something (turn the page, for example), your child does something (smiles and gets excited), and you keep the game going (saying, “The baby is looking at you!”). The more your child looks, touches, and otherwise enjoys the activity, the better.
Take a look at more interactions with picture books
Books Are Exciting
Jody is nestled in his mother’s lap, as she shows him a book of baby faces. She turns each page while waiting for 8-month-old Jody to show some sign that he notices what he is looking at. Each time Jody moves and seems excited, his mother points to and describes the pictures in the book. The more they look at the book, the more Jody becomes fascinated with the parent–child activity.
Noisy Books
Sara, 5 months old, loves to bang things to make noises. Her mother encourages her by drumming her fingers on different toys where Sara is playing. She starts a new game by showing Sara a book that has pages with different kinds of noise makers. She opens a page and pats the noise maker to Sara’s surprise. It isn’t long before Sara reaches and tries to make the sounds herself. Her mother helps her make the sounds while describing the pictures Sara sees and the noises that she makes.
Picture Book Delights
S ean, age 16 months, loves playing lap games with his parents but has difficulty holding his head up for even short periods of time. His mom and dad, who are avid readers, are eager to help Sean enjoy books. They often lie down with Sean, propping his head in the crook of their arms so that head control is not a problem. Sean’s parents know he really likes pictures of animals. From the very first time he was shown an animal picture book, Sean showed excitement with every new page and every word and animal sound his parents uttered while they looked together at the colorful pictures.
