Reading to baby

kkerner87

Okay, so we read A LOT. Like we have gone through her entire "library" and I just ordered some more (Thriftbooks is ahhhhmazing btw). Anyway, Judy Blume and Ronald Dahl were my absolute favorite growing up. I bought some titles by those authors and now I am second guessing if I should start reading those to LO. She does very well sitting on my lap and listening to me read or even if she is playing, I will read stories to her as she plays. She loves it. I just don't know if they're too advanced for her? It might discourage her from reading? I just want to keep building her vocabulary. Not trying to mommy brag, but very proud of her communication skills at 12 months old. I wan to keep us on that path. 

kmcshane0211

Read it! Just don't expect her to sit that long. 

The only accommodation I'd make forr sure is make the sentences shorter. At this age, they can't take in that much at once. So paraphrase sentences to be about 4-5 words max but be sure to include those rich vocabulary words. Studies show complexity and variability of vocabulary are two correlate factors to strong language development. I'd cite the study but I'm too lazy to find the citation. It was recent.

ElleMF728

I bought a ton of Roald Dahl books before I had DS1, they were some of my favorites growing up.  I also bought him his own collection of Harry Potter books and can't wait to read them to him.  Personally, we plan on waiting.  It's tough to keep a little one interested in books like that, even Dr. Seuss books can be a little long and difficult to get our 3 year old to sit still for, not the baby ones obviously but Horton Hears a Who for example. I love the idea of reading them as she plays.  Why not? You will probably get a chance to enjoy them at the very least.  

Some of my best childhood memories are reading with my Dad before bed.  He worked a lot when we were little but every night he would read with us after our baths.  He started reading chapter books when we were pretty young probably around 4 or 5 with The Hobbit, Watership Down, Pollyanna.  I plan to start with DS1 around that age but right now we are doing kid books since he likes to be able to pick out and read words that he knows and "read" them to Mommy and Daddy at bedtime. 

AmandaNacora

Definitely read them! I think at this point it's not so much about the content of the books, just the fact that you're reading to them. Btw I'm jealous you're LO will sit in your lap and let you read, I get maybe 5 pages before mine takes the book from me... She'd much rather sit by herself and flip through the pages or tear every single book out of the book shelf haha. 

mill1020

I'm a huge fan of reading to your kids--anything and everything (well, almost!)--starting at a young age.  Even if she's just playing on the floor while you're reading to her, it's beneficial.  You will NOT discourage her from reading if you read to her.  My big kids are all great readers after hearing me obsessively read to them. 

kkerner87

Thanks everyone! I figured even if we read a little of it at night, that would be great! Not like I expect her to sit and read the entire book or even several chapters in one sitting. So thanks for the advice! Sometimes we just need a little reassurance

missliz53

My mom read to my brother and I every day starting when we were babies. She used to give us a cloth book to chew on while she read the "big kids" books. It wasn't until I got older and started reading some of the fairy tale books that she read to us that I realized just how much censoring she did. 

LoveLee85

Your LO seeing you ready, having books around, showing them it's fun and exciting, teaching them and letting them hear tons of vocabulary.....it's all great. My LO think the word Buffalo is hilarious. Haha Sometimes LO plays at my feet while I read a big book aloud.