Reading trouble

vintagevix2016

Damien doesn't seem like it when I read to him. He spends the entire time fussing and grabbing at the book. If he succeeds, he cgews on it. Heaven forbid I try to read from it though. He has always been this way and it's really frustrating because I love reading and reading to him. I rarely get through a few pages before having to quit. 

Anyone have advice?

meggyme

Jackie recently learned to turn the pages, so reading has become much more interactive, but also more complicated. We read a lot of sturdy pop up books where she can lift the flaps and also she likes the ones with things she can touch, either different textures or concentric holes. There's also a couple we have with just enough words/page that I can read it in the time it takes her to turn the page. I can give you specific titles we have if you're interested, but idk how widely available they are.

vintagevix2016

meggyme said:

Jackie recently learned to turn the pages, so reading has become much more interactive, but also more complicated. We read a lot of sturdy pop up books where she can lift the flaps and also she likes the ones with things she can touch, either different textures or concentric holes. There's also a couple we have with just enough words/page that I can read it in the time it takes her to turn the page. I can give you specific titles we have if you're interested, but idk how widely available they are.

We have a few pop-up books, texture books, a bunch of super sturdy ones. He's just more interested in eating them I guess and trying to read a sentence or two is super difficult. I keep trying nonetheless. Maybe bath time would be a good time since he is semi-distracted.

adiaz132003

I have a book that plays music and he loves it.  It's more like a toy so he spends less time trying to chew and more pushing buttons to hear the words.  

Lizbeth86

This may not be helpful at all, but "reading" time (more like chewing and grabbing time) became more fun when I stopped holding my daughter in my lap. I let her sit freely now on the floor and let her hold the book, sort of reading it and helping her turn pages. She enjoys it much more now that it's more on her terms. She has a weird habit of crawling over to a big book, putting her hands on it, and doing a downward dog, sticking her butt up in the air while she studies the book. It's her thing, haha.

alcermack

Lily loves books but I put her in my lap or in front of me with her own book. She watches and pretends to be following along while she waves it around and chews. If I keep reading she will play with the same book til I'm done

vintagevix2016

Giving him his own book while I read him another one sounds like a great idea. So does getting him a musical book that is more interactive with lights and sounds. He would love that! I'll also try not having him in my lap and see if that helps. Lots to try! Thank you all for the suggestions!

Linsbins

Dd is the same way. She likes those touch and feel books from Usborne (the book parties). She stops to feel it and I get to read two sentences. Other books are thrown and chewed on at this point. 

MistKeeper

I put DS in his crib and sit on a chair before nap time. He stands and looks. During the day we'll read together too, but it usually ends in him eating the book or just grabbing it to turn the pages. This is fine though! The reason that reading to kids is so important is because it introduces them to language. Being more interested in chewing than the pictures is developmentally appropriate at this age and really no problem. The key thing is that you are exposing your LO to books and language. Try to avoid too many musical books. I have one too that I use for a distraction when trying to get chores done, but studies show that only human interaction is helpful at teaching language until about the age of 2.

vintagevix2016

MistKeeper said:

I put DS in his crib and sit on a chair before nap time. He stands and looks. During the day we'll read together too, but it usually ends in him eating the book or just grabbing it to turn the pages. This is fine though! The reason that reading to kids is so important is because it introduces them to language. Being more interested in chewing than the pictures is developmentally appropriate at this age and really no problem. The key thing is that you are exposing your LO to books and language. Try to avoid too many musical books. I have one too that I use for a distraction when trying to get chores done, but studies show that only human 'interaction is helpful at teaching language until about the age of 2.

Lucky for Damien that I'm a chatterbox all day :-P I talk his ear off about anything and everything. I love showing him new (and old) things and telling him all about whatever they might be. 

violetmarie61516

Lillyana is getting better about this lately.  I just recently became an Usborne consultant because I LOVE their books so much for Lilly.  She loves the touchy feely books and I got her the little board books to chew really rather than read while I'm reading something else.  We sit on the floor together and I let her help turn pages.  I've found if I point at things while I read, she pays attention to the pictures on the pages while I read about them.  It will get better but the important thing is that you are introducing them to the books and they will catch on how it works.