Idaho Commission for Libraries

On this page:

• Ten good reasons to read to babies
• Tips for families
• Selecting Books for Infants
• References

When a baby or child experiences new things, new brain cell connections grow. With every reading of a nursery rhyme or singing of a lullaby, thousands of connections in the brain are formed or strengthened. You can help your child's brain grow and develop by fostering a love of reading. Many Idaho libraries offer programs for infants and toddlers and their parents along with books, musical tapes and much more.

Ten good reasons to read to babies

1. Baby associates your voice with warmth, comfort, and security.
2. Reading has a calming effect on a restless baby.
3. Baby is entertained by nursery rhymes and songs.
4. Holding the baby while reading to him/her creates a close, loving bond between parent and baby.
5. Baby makes an association between reading and being held.
6. The pleasure of being held transfers to the desire to be read to.
7. Baby will learn to listen and will grow up ready to read.
8. Baby will begin imitating sounds and words.
9. Baby must hear English (or French or whatever) in order to learn that language.
10. It's fun to read to a baby!

Tips for Families

The America Reads Challenge: Ready*Set*Read for Families has these tips for families as their children's first teacher:

• Read with your children at a regular time every day and when they ask you.
• Take toddlers and preschoolers to the library so that they can choose books to read at home.
• Find out about your library's special books and services.
• Create a special place in your home for your children to read and write.
• Keep books and other reading materials where children can reach them. Add new books often.
• Keep writing materials such as washable, nontoxic crayons and markers, paints and brushes, and different kinds of paper where your children can reach them.
• Take books and writing materials for your children with you whenever you leave home, so that they can read or write at the doctor's office, on the bus, and in the car.
• Show your children how you read and write every day to have fun and to get things done.
• Point out to your children the printed words in your home and in the community.
• Encourage your children to do things for themselves when they are ready. Let them feed and dress themselves, and clean up after themselves even if these tasks take more time and are not done perfectly.

Selecting Books for Infants

Pictures should be large, bold colorful, and uncluttered. Illustrations should show definite contrast between light and dark.

Stories should be short.

Types of books to be shared with infants include:

• Books with rhyme, rhythm, and repetition
• Books with pictures of other babies
• Informational books
• Poetry books
• Books with textures or touch and feel books
• Mother Goose and nursery rhyme books
• Concept books
• Folktales
• Books that feature familiar items or events in baby's world
• Books that feature sounds
• Books babies can manipulate, such as lift the flap books or books with holes (12 - 18 months)
• Books of different sizes and shapes (18-30 months)
• Books with "parent appeal"

Books with longer stories should be read to baby as his or her attention span increases. Developmental stages of a baby will determine the type and length of books to read to baby.

Wordless books are useful to parents to make up stories as they "read" the pictures.

Types of books for infants:

• Board books - pages are heavy, sturdy, and laminated; perfect for little hands. The pictures are simple and clear; the books are brightly designed; the stories are simple and short. Babies can chew on sturdy books without causing too much damage. Clean books by wiping with 1/2 cup bleach per gallon of water, window cleaner, or rubbing alcohol.
• Cloth books -- pages are made of heavy-duty cloth. Pages aren't as easily turned as those in board books, but the books are durable -- just toss and wash.
• Soft plastic books -- again these are durable and can even go in the bathtub.

References

See our information on brain development and ideas for creating a home literacy environment.

The America Reads Challenge: Ready*Set*Read for Families site has tips for families as their children's first teacher, activities for young babies, crawlers and walkers, toddlers and preschoolers, a suggested book list, and more resources.

Carnegie Corporation Starting Points. Contains information about the national Starting Points Project and other states' and cities' initiatives.

I Am Your Child. Contains information about brain research, developmental information on children age 0 - 3, resources and much more.

Idaho Early Childhood Information Clearinghouse. This site provides information about young children, birth to age three, including links to Idaho programs and worldwide information, current practice and research, and child development information.

Making Connections: How Children Learn. A summary of recent brain research written as part of the America Reads Challenge.

Zero to Three. Another information-rich source of information for parents and professionals. Contains research and information on physical, cognitive and social development of children from birth to age three.

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