Any benefit to me reading AT him?

LI444

Our son won't sit still for books-at all.  We get maybe three pages in on any book that doesn't have things to touch and he's knocking it out of our hands and looking for something else to do.  We do keep reading him the touch and feel books he likes, but sometimes he really won't sit for those, either.  Do you think there's any point to me sitting next to him while he plays with his toys and reading the book while holding it so he can glance at it if he wants to?  Or is that just ridiculous and pushing too hard?

mrs.larry

keep at it but, let him lead. if he stops three pages in? then move on too. But keep up with the books.

DS was like this too at that age... still is sometimes.  The Very Hungry Caterpillar went like this: "in the light of the... on tuesday he ate thr... on saturday he ... a beautiful butterfly!" yay!!!   

Sometimes I don't read him the story at all but instead point out things on the page. He likes balls so we always look through the books for various pictures with balls.  or birds. or whatever.  or we make animal noises for the animals in the story.  and when he's done. he's done.  we don't force it.  but we DO read to him every day and he loves it.

suscq

DD is the same way.  I generally let her move on to whatever else she wants to do and just keep the book nearby if she comes back.  It hasn't turned her away from books any, she still brings them to me all the time to read and just leaves in the middle of them.

NDwife07

There's absolutely a benefit! Hearing spoken language - especially words that might not enter your everyday talk - is a huge help in developing language skills!

ivs112

DD doesn't sit still for a whole book either but I just keep reading. She'll look at me and smile so I know she's paying attention :-).

KathrynMD

DD will now sit most of the time and read most of the book w/ me - especially books we've read over and over.  And I point out the same thngs again and again. 

I would just keep making sure books are around and try to read them to your LO when you can, you could also try sitting near her and reading it to yourself aloud, she might want to come over and see what you're doing and snuggle into your lap while she's at it.  Even if she's not really paying attention, she's getting the idea that books are words/noises/actions, that words are read left to right, that books are held a certain way, have a beginning and an end, etc. all of those are important pre-reading skills.

LI444

Thanks everyone!  The feedback makes me feel much better, and I especially think the idea of reading the books out loud to myself to try to lure him over would work with him.

GoombaGirl_79

I wanted to read to my DS, and I did for the longest time. Until he started with grabbing. I think I will have to wait until he's a little older to read to him because he does NOT sit still, and if he sees a book he tries constantly to grab it, and if he gets it he tries to EAT it. Not just chew the pages a little, he gnaws chunks off the board books. So for now, no books, except his Winnie the Pooh electronic book which he loves because he can turn the pages and he doesn't eat it. 

When he's older I will definitely encourage reading and read him lots of stories.