Reading to your baby,Are you able to read to the for 15 minutes?

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

Reading to your baby,Are you able to read to the for 15 minutes?My cousin seems like he only likes to look at the pictures and try to tear the pages.Do you think he really gets anything out of this.

 

[Birbitt]

I don't read for 15 minutes in one session for the younger ones...I split it up into 3 5 minute sessions through the day. And yes they get a lot from it, reading to a child helps to teach them language and they learn that reading is important and the children who are read to regularly do better in school as well.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

I don't read for 15 minutes in one session for the younger ones...I split it up into 3 5 minute sessions through the day. And yes they get a lot from it, reading to a child helps to teach them language and they learn that reading is important and the children who are read to regularly do better in school as well.

Are they getting anything out of it when there not looking at you when you read to them?Thanks!Splitting it up threw the day makes since.

 

[cynthiainchrist]

Hi,
When my son was a baby, I used to get those books with the buttons they can push that make little sound effects. He loved it. Maybe that'll get the baby's attention more lol.

 

[Birbitt]

Even if he's not looking at you or seeming to pay attention he's still hearing you talking to him. That's the most important part of reading to a baby is the actual talking, not the pictures or the story. He's learning a lot about language and speaking when you talk to him.

I read to my 3 month old and he doesn't look at the pictures at all but he does look forward to our reading times each day and misses them if I skip one. I notice that if I skip one he gets a little whiney and wants more cuddles and to eat more and such...so I make it a point to read to him. When I am reading he's cooing or just staring up at the fan or at the fish...but he hears the words and that's what's most important for him.

 

[Hadassah]

Before we got to the point where my LO could turn the pages himself, we could read for any length of time and he was very happy just to be held and hear us talk and see us talking.

Now, he wants the book, he wants to turn the pages, and he wants to open and close it at will. There's no chance of reading at this point, unless he willingly brings you the book and asks "Whassat?"

However, this is a child that will take our Nintendo DS and wants to try and play a game, or will sit through 30-60 minutes of a tv program/movie, play on the computer (if you count banging on the keyboard to my mom/dad as 'playing') and runs through the house bringing me things he thinks I need to cook or clean.

 

[tiffyof6ntwins]

my youngest are 3 and they can sit through for 15 mins or longer. i work in a day care center and even in the infants room we can get most to sit for a good 10 mins and watch us as we read to them. they dont understand most the stories at that age but its the language and word building thats important and they often repeat words they find interesting.

 

[Assisi]

This is not a problem I've ever had with my 14mo. BUT I have a friend who would read her own book aloud as her little one played - at 18mo he had a fantastic vocab. So yes, I think your baby will learn a lot even if Bub doesn't seem to be paying attention.

It is good for babies to hear the language, to see that books are a part of your life, and to know that reading time is a fun time. Mem Fox recommends three books a day and suggests making the time as fun as possible.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

Thanks Everyone,He seemed to well today.He also like to tear up his books when I read them to him too.

 

[myanchor]

Hey I read to my youngun's when they were in the womb. They knew my voice and always calmed when I talked to them when they were first born.

 

[Hadassah]

we did loads of reading when he was smaller, and for now he just doesn't sit still - so we do more talking and such. His vocabulary's awesome for his age (esp with two languages under his belt). He'll sit through most of a movie or most tv shows though...

 

[moonkitty]

Thanks Everyone,He seemed to well today.He also like to tear up his books when I read them to him too.

Have you tried board books? Or those soft cloth books? Those are great for babies/toddlers.

I started reading to my kids when they were in utero--if I was reading a book, I would start reading it aloud. It wasn't going to hurt anything, and gave me a bit of practice with cold reading.

Also when my kid were very little and were just playing in the living room, like with their blocks or cars, I would read aloud to them out of what ever I was reading--I think my kids heard the entire 20 books by Patrick O'brain that way, LOL.

Like what other parents here have said, it's not that they are following the plot or understand the character development--its that they are hearing words, and seeing a good example. Sing songs, chants, nursery rhymes, and such are also great ways to help develop early reading skills.

 

[LovesToBless]

Another voice of agreement in all this. I would add - just talk to your child too.

We have a lot of books in our home...we always have. I took my son to the library for story time when he was a toddler until he outgrew the program at about 5th grade.

He loves reading, had a good size library of his own books, and I'm sure will always read for pleasure. He's in college now.

I've known people who read to their children well into their teens. It's not that the teen couldn't read for themselves - and they do read for themselves - it was a pleasant family time together to read a book out loud. We didn't do that ourselves, but it sounds quite nice to me.

I agree with MK about board or cloth books...the little children can't tear them up.