ready to give up on reading to my girls

janjag · March 2010

moms with crawlers/climbers did you just give up on reading to your LOs for a while? i used to read them books and they'd sit in full attention, sometimes for more than one book at a time. now they crawl away, grab at the book, climb on me. i'm lucky if i have one interested child. i certainly don't need to read, "in a people house" to myself one. more. time.

should i just give it a rest for a while?

pea-kay · March 2010

Mine were not yet into books at that age. After they turned 1, they got a LOT more interested in them.

BitterOldHag · March 2010

We go through 3 books at a time. One for each of them to chew on and one for me to read. We keep switching them around.

Katrina_0087 · March 2010

mine are 16 mos and just started getting into them and can't get enough of books right now....esp "in a people house" and "are you my mother?" so i feel your pain about it.

janjag · March 2010

BitterOldHag:
We go through 3 books at a time. One for each of them to chew on and one for me to read. We keep switching them around.

ah, so the trick is just to sacrifice books to the babies. i've been trying to keep them intact. i guess i can try letting them each hold a board book while i read. but i'm not letting them hold paper-page books.

think i'll try story time while they're still in their chairs. captive babies.

p.s. i love chef, and i miss muppets.

JustaKidAtHeart · March 2010

We do it one on one, in the highchair or when they are in their cribs.

janjag · March 2010

pea-kay:
Mine were not yet into books at that age. After they turned 1, they got a LOT more interested in them.

they LOVED books before they started rolling alot and then crawling. i guess they are just too busy. can't even do pre-nap/bed story. can barely keep them in the same room. this is where the fun begins, right? i need to lose a few lbs anyway

janjag · March 2010

JustaKidAtHeart:
We do it one on one, in the highchair or when they are in their cribs.

highchair! good idea.

volgirl123 · March 2010

If you cut back on reading I would try more than ever to talk to them non-stop about what you are doing. "Like now we are putting on your shirt, can you please push your hand through your sleeve?"

I started reading to my DD when she was two months old, and I have read to her every since. There were stages where she wouldn't pay attention, and I know with my twins it will be harder- but even if she was across the room trying to put a toy in her mouth I would still finish the book because I knew she could hear me. I really think that is the reason she is so verbal now. At 15 months she has over 200 words and can put words together- like "I do" or "I'm ready". I really think reading or just talking to them helps so much.

keg · March 2010

I had the same issue and even if I gave them each a book they'd want what I had so we seldom read much, and they were always board books. They are getting more into books now and what I do is put them each in their crib and then sit outside and read books with real pages. They still want those, but we're generally doing library books now so I'll hand them each one to look at. Sometimes they are more into it than others, but they are definitely liking it more now. Even if they aren't into it, at least in the cribs they are contained and I don't have to chase them. ;-) I also keep some board books in each of their cribs so they can "read" when they wake up (one DD likes to do it more than the other and I think they both like throwing them out of the crib!).

BitterOldHag · March 2010

janjag:

BitterOldHag:
We go through 3 books at a time. One for each of them to chew on and one for me to read. We keep switching them around.

ah, so the trick is just to sacrifice books to the babies. i've been trying to keep them intact. i guess i can try letting them each hold a board book while i read. but i'm not letting them hold paper-page books.

think i'll try story time while they're still in their chairs. captive babies.

p.s. i love chef, and i miss muppets.

Try bath books. They can't damage them as much as paper pages. I too miss the muppets.

omalley · March 2010

I have been sticking with board books with pictures only. If I try to read a "story" they lose interest fast but if I point and talk about the objects/people they get into it. I usually sit on the floor, back against couch, with them on my lap.

This book is our current favorite.

LilSurferGirl · March 2010

We have always read to them at mealtimes when they are locked in their high chairs. They can't grab the books, they can't crawl/run away - and they'll sit still longer and eat more because they're being entertained. Now that my boys are two they'll bring books to the table and tell us exactly what they want to hear while they eat!

janjag · March 2010

volgirl123:

If you cut back on reading I would try more than ever to talk to them non-stop about what you are doing. "Like now we are putting on your shirt, can you please push your hand through your sleeve?"

I started reading to my DD when she was two months old, and I have read to her every since. There were stages where she wouldn't pay attention, and I know with my twins it will be harder- but even if she was across the room trying to put a toy in her mouth I would still finish the book because I knew she could hear me. I really think that is the reason she is so verbal now. At 15 months she has over 200 words and can put words together- like "I do" or "I'm ready". I really think reading or just talking to them helps so much.

wow, that is a great vocab at that age! we started reading (dr. seuss's ABCs) at 3mos actual age, and they were so into it. i was so surprised. all the rhyming and colors was probably what enticed them. i try (well maybe without trying) to talk to them alot... describing what's happening through the day. also got baby signing times dvd from the library and they LOVED it. so it's on order from amazon right now.

BizEB · March 2010

My son crawled at 7 months and walked at 9 months and he wasn't into books from 7 months til about a year. I didn't force it, would read to him when he seemed open to it, when he was captive (highchair, in a carseat on an airplane, etc.) and had books around for him to read and carry around. He is now obsessed with books and has been since about 14 months. I literally read 30-40 books to him a day. It's all he wants to do.

meldoo2002 · March 2010

Reading to your child will not give them a vocabulary of 200 words at 15 months so don't stress about it. The average 15 month old has 5-25 words. Honestly if they are so not in to it don't stress about it. As long as you've been reading to them, continue to offer it, but they will come back eventually. I know many moms of 2 year olds that wish they could stop reading.. I know sounds bad, but eventually they will be bringing you book after book after book. I would maybe try to read to them before bed and before nap if that makes sense... but honestly as a speech pathologist who is reading certified don't stress!

lami22005 · March 2010

I thought something was wrong with my kids.. LOL! The only way they will listen to me read is when they're in their cribs. They will sit easily sit/stand through 20 minutes! I always have had books in the house, so I hope I didn't hinder their reading ability too much by not being able to get them to listen to a story in the early months-especially since I'm a teacher!

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