The toddler posses a whole new read aloud. The infant sits and listens to the story. They squirm very little and they are just looking at the pages. You probably noticed that as your infant got closer to the age of one they started to engage with the book a little more. Maybe they are beginning to try and help turn the page or they are beginning to point at the pictures on the page. This calls for a whole new way of reading and presenting books.
My grandson happily comes and sits on my lap to hear a story. But I quickly learn that I am not reading the story, I am paraphrasing and making it up as I go. He is turning the pages and I am only done with the first sentence. My wiggly toddler is up and on the run again, but I keep reading or paraphrasing, he is listening. Don’t give up on reading books with your toddler.
The toddler has a short attention span and wants to be in control. They want to turn the page when they are ready and it could be 2 or 3 at once. they want to get up, go look at something and come back to see what you are doing. Don’t think they aren’t getting the reading experience though. They are learning the love of reading by being on your lap and experiencing the closeness this activity brings, even if only for short bursts of time. They are learning that the turning of the page moves the story along. They are learning the way story language works and sounds by listening to you.
Some days reading of any kind seems to be a loosing battle with toddlers. It is okay, don’t give up. On those days you may want to try something else, singing/saying nursery rhymes. This activity is necessary to help your child learn the rhythm of language. Don’t get so caught up on just the books, they are very important, but toddlers need lots of different exposures to language. Here are 30 nursery rhymes you can sing with your child on those days your child needs to move and dance instead of reading a book.
Some tips to remember when you are reading to and with your toddler:
- Use lots of expression when reading, make the characters come alive.
- Keep the books short with few words on the page.
- Give them access to lots of board books to explore by themselves as well as with you.
- Spend time talking about the pictures instead of reading the words. This will hold their attention a little while longer and give them a lot of vocabulary exposure.
- Your child may not be sitting still, but as long as they are in the room with you, keep reading, they are listening.
Some of my favorite books for toddlers:
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- Dr. Seuss A B C Book
- I Am a Bunny by Richard Scary
- Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathman
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar By Eric Carle
- Are You My Mother by P.D. Eastman
- The Feelings Book by Todd Parr
- The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
- Highlights Hello Magazine
