Get Your Child Reading Early! As Early As Your Womb!

Children become readers on the laps on their parents. But did you know, they start from the womb? 

I truly believe they do! And if its in the genes, how can you stop them! Have you heard elders say that the baby 

kicks you when it likes the food or hears your voice? Well, if they have taste choices, shouldn't they have literary 

choices as well? 

When I meet parents at school and other parents my son's age, they keep asking me for suggestions of books they

 can introduce to their little ones. Most parents want to know how to start off books for their babies. Here are a few

 tips that have worked for me and a few others. It may be helpful, it may be a trick, it may just work out - parenting

 is always instinctive, so go by how our child reacts to the activity.

Ages 0-1

Enthusiastic new mothers always come up to me asking if they can read to their new born - OF COURSE! 

Why not? We wore those bangles during our pregnancy so our babies could hear them clinking in the womb -

 of course they can hear you read when they are out in the world! But what kind of books to read to a baby

 that young? Well, a baby who can make eye contact and respond to your voice is a baby who is ready to

 interact with you and steal your heart. It doesn't necessarily have to be a book you read to them,

 you can always just keep talking to them and holds their hands and make hand motions together.

Babies love noises! 'Daddy was driving the car and *zooooooom* we went past the big read *bussss*!

 Emphasizing on words can trigger their curiosity and make them want to listen to you more. Its lovely

 to see their eyes go where you guide their hands. Holding their legs and hands while telling them allows the 

bodily warmth of hearing the parent's voice and enjoying their touch. At home, we would put my son on the 

bed and do this while I massaged him before bath. I'm a very loud person but when I was speaking to my son, 

I would be so loud and the entire house could hear him gurgling with laughter while we were at it. 

Then I noticed a pattern - My family was doing the same. My parents, my husband, my brother would 

do the same thing while baby sitting him. It made such a load of difference because as a baby, he kept

 listening to all their voices. My niece who was around 2 that time would also try and mime us as she played

 with him. 

Lap time - Once babies can hold their heads straight and can balance on your laps is when books really do 

the trick. The thick picture books are a blessing for this time! Holding the book while your baby is on your

 lap is going to help both you and your baby see the book. Picking something like a picture book of farm

 animals is such an easy choice parents have made along the years - Why? - Because we get to make the

 animal noises~!! Which baby doesn't react to the *mmmaaaaaaa* of the cow or the *meeehhh* of the goat?! 

Showing the babies the actual animal later on excites them so much!! 

Age 1-2

This is such a beautifully curious age. They have just started teething, talking and gurgling their words.

 This is when you get them to repeat after you. I have the fondest of memories of my son saying 'Stawberry' 

without the 'r' sound. It was so cute, it stuck with us and we sometimes still say 'stawberry'. The same happens

with 'Oplane' and 'ikeem' (aeroplane and ice cream). 

Small books with fewer pages that have a continuity helps kids this age focus on whats happening in the book. 

They have just identified the object in play and they love the continuity of what happened next. By the end of age 1,

 they understand that the object's story continues and they hold their curiosity till the end.  They like to see how

 the cat jumped and tried so much to drink the milk. And when the cat does drink the milk - the end makes them

 so happy. 

Age 2-4

At this stage, they know their vegetables, fruits, gadgets, vehicles and so much more! Its easy to get bored with

 picture books at this stage - they need the motivation of listening to new things now! Stories stick with them 

at this age and they begin to relate the outside world and indoor objects to the story. Involving everything

 around them as they listen to the story helps them connect to the actions from the story itself. 

The joy of watching the little caterpillar eat so much and then magically become a butterfly is absolute bliss 

for this age! Stories help them connect to the world in a way nothing else can. A fantasy story helps the child

 imagine about the presence of a world like that entirely on its own. 

The age of 3 is when they do go to nursery and when they wean from parent's watchful hold. Its a new world

 altogether and it can be can be a scary time for a few. Stories are an easy way to getting them to bond with their

 teacher. As a part time teacher myself, some children would enjoy the new place and want to explore it 

on their own. Some would want the older person's comfort and stick to me. But one thing that had helped 

bridge the gap and get them all to become one and listen is stories! 

Its magical and its necessary. Reading is the escape that no one else can give except oneself. Its an amazing

 hobby we can instill in them at a very young age. Get your little ones reading!