Develop a love for reading before age ONE!
We started early and in this photo our daughter is 10 months old. Today she wanted to read 15 books with me! And she sat and sustained attention to most of them. It can happen. But it’s also okay if it doesn’t happen this early or in the same way.
Just like it takes several exposures…15 sometimes 30 or more…for babies and children to develop the taste for certain foods, the same is true for many other things as well. I have presented my daughter with toys thinking she would love them, only to have her turn the other way and find something else more interesting. However, a few days or sometimes weeks later, she gets super interested in them.
You’re right. She might not have been ready for that particular toy. And now she is. But sometimes, it just takes '“hanging out” with and around an object to get interested in it. I also think about reading and book exposure as I do for helping one of my clients improve any skill. I broke it down into steps and achievable (for me and baby!) goals.
Clients and friends often ask how to get their kids interested in books. “How do you get them to sit down and listen or read with you?” “She doesn’t have the attention span for books!” are things I hear frequently.
Quick answers:
It takes time. It doesn’t start like that!
She’s not supposed to! Attention builds over time.
I do have some tips to help you help your little one to develop a love for books and reading from an early age. Know that it’s typical for it to take time, and go through waves of interest & disinterest in reading. Pick just a few, or try all of the tips below. Make it work for you, so you don’t get overwhelmed!
Here we go:
Start early - You can start the day they are born. But you’ll likely be busy figuring out how to feed, clothe and take care of your small human. Start when you get home at least. You don’t even have to read books with words. Using black and white picture books (not just black and white cards) or accordion books to start is important. They need to just be around books!
Variety - Don’t only read board books, or only have books that make sounds etc. some of our daughter’s first books were Always Anjali, Onions and Garlic, Round is a Tortilla. Those are “regular books” (not board books, and meant for older kids) which also makes it way more interesting for caregivers!
Don’t feel like you have to read the entire book in one sitting/you can read just one line per page - Sometimes we would read one or two pages when our daughter was young.
Go slowly - Take time to allow your infant or baby to look at each page. You can even just hold the book in front of them when they are infants so that they have something to focus on and work on their eye skills. Learning to read and developing a love for books does not just revolve around words. When kids learn reading comprehension they are taught to use the pictures to help them find out what is happening in the story.
Point - Point out interesting items for them to draw their attention to. Comment on them or ask a question if you feel like it. Your child won’t understand what you’re saying right now, but hearing your voice will also help their language develop.
Sounds - Connect words/animals to sounds (and then point out these items in real life, too!).
Change your tone - Use an animated tone; sing the words. Get excited! Moo vs MOOOOOOOoooooooouuuuu - which do you think is funnier to a 10 month old?
Get cool with slobber - Know that babies are going to mouth books (I have certain books I allow and don’t allow mouthing for safety and let’s be real, because I don’t want my non board books ruined). I’m a HUGE fan of indestructibles books, which, who knows what they’re made of (though they say “non-toxic”) can be chewed and chewed with no tears! THE BEST! You can also HOLE PUNCH in a corner and stick a toy strap through them to attach to a stroller or your wrist in an airplane.
Read throughout the day - Don’t just read books before bed/naps. You want your child to love books when they are alert and awake, too! Not just when they are sleepy or mad crank.
Ask or suggest, don’t force - Would you like to read a book with me? or Let’s read a book! Have the child sit between your legs, on your lap, or near you. If they lose interest, you can say something like “are you all done for now? let’s take a break and come back to it.” I like to leave the book open on the couch and come back to where we left off.
Clues - Make sure to read the title & author. Mostly because someone worked their tail off to write and illustrate that book that looks super simple! At the end say “The end” which helps them know the book is over.
Easy access - Have books (that you’re not worried about ripping, etc.) easily accessible in a pile on the floor, a childproofed shelf or small table. This has helped our daughter go up to the books herself and get excited about pulling them out herself. You will likely end up with piles of books on the floor at some point.
Make it fun - Kids learn through fun and play! Sometimes we stack the books, especially those tiny ones. Poke-a-dot books, sound books (this kind, too) and pull flap or slide books are fun too! Our daughter loves dropping books off of the edge of the couch to see what happens/what sound is made when they crash to the floor. Yes, she has cried in pain several times when the corner of a particularly heavy board book bonks her foot.
Read books YOU’RE interested in or loved as a kid - It’s more tolerable to read a book over and over if you love it. AND if there’s a book you can’t finish in one sitting, it’s exciting when the caregiver is excited to get back to it too. Last week my partner read our daughter a Dora The Explorer book we got from a friend. It took him two days to get through the whole thing with our daughter. We were both super curious what happened at the end, haha!
Gifts - When family members ask what to get your child for gifts, ask for specific books or even for friends and family to buy your child their childhood favorite. Also a good tip for baby showers, ESPECIALLY for a second child. Since you already have all the baby gear you need by then.
YET -When parents say to me “my child hates books” or “she doesn’t like to read” I like to think of it differently. She doesn’t like them YET - give it time and KEEP EXPOSING YOUR CHILD to reading materials! Let’s see if this develops over time.
“I love this book so much!!! Because it’s easy to fit in my mouth!”
My favorite board book series: Chaat & Sweets, Hola Jalapeño, Yum Yum Dim Sum, First Book of Sushi Let’s Nosh, A Little Bit of Soul Food, Mangia! Mangia! (the artwork in this World Snack Series by Amy Wilson Sanger is phenomenal and unique and I am OBSESSED WITH THEM. Each and every one. They make AWESOME gifts too!)
Amazing anti-racist baby book. Start early!
I have a love hate relationship with this book, but it makes my baby laugh out loud so I read (and sing) it: Barnyard Dance
Baby’s favorite board books at 10 months old: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Edible Colors, Edamame & Edapapa
BONUS: this book is super fun and unique - Press Here (not a typo, it’s actually called Press Here)
PRO TIP: If you want to take a book (or anything) away from your baby because she’s eaten half of the cardboard binding, a good strategy is to warn her. Let her know that “When I count to 5 we’re all done with the book” and then gently take it away and offer her another. Over time, warning her is going to help her avoid tantrums. During high teething times, I also have a teether right there to switch out for the delicious book. [Of course, if she’s got something dangerous in her mouth, do the safe thing whatever that may be.]
P.S. I only link to products I love/use! I may earn a commission from some of the links above, which helps to run this website!