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!