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Two Questions Re: Zoo / Books (Random)
1) DS and I spend a lot of time reading during the day and I'm wondering if I'm reading the 'right' kind of books. I have board books that have one line on each page which is primarily what we read... he really enjoys them. Should I also be reading longer books, along the lines of something like "Bearenstein Bears" or stick with the small ones for now?
2) When did you start regularly visiting the zoo with your LO?
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Re: Two Questions Re: Zoo / Books (Random)
lol @ bearenstein bears. If you LO likes what you are reading- keep with it. Honestly- the 'story' is more for you- if you want to read him something a little more complex for your sanity- go for it. Personally I took full advantage of reading for 'me' while baby was still young. It is listening to your voice and looking at pictures to stimulate him is what is important. I would read Gisele my magazines/newspapers until she was old enough to grab at them and try to eat it. ..... and I REALLY miss those times where I could still read for me- but interact with her. It was all about your tone of voice vs the 'material' being read.
enjoy your baby not having a preference of reading material- because it is short lived. Soon you will be reading the same 'favorite' story 10x a day because that is all he wants. And then you want to chuck it out the window. (I have even gone as far as to 'hide' certain books for a couple of days)
As far as the zoo- again- at his age- it is more for you. So if you want to go - take him and enjoy. however babies at 6 months old will get just as 'stimulated' by going to the post office. As far as him 'getting something out of it' and really GETTING and enjoying the zoo- I would say a year and half. Everything before that is more for the mom, IMHO (and there is nothing wrong with that)
What stacy said (I find myself saying that often, lol).
Read whatever you like. My one piece of advice is if you can read stories, do. But also pointing out pictures and identifying is good, too. I can't get DD to sit for a story, but she will go through her books and point out words she knows.
As far as the zoo, my DD was kinda eh about it last year, but she loved it this year. It's just a hot mo-fo out there.
1) You could read the phone book to your son. It really doesn't matter. Picture books (Sandra Boynton, Eric Carle, etc.) are better for his age since he can "look" at them.........so the reading is more for you (like the PP's said).
2) We've been going to the zoo for a long time, but I have 2 older ones. My DS still doesn't "get it", but he'll sit in the stroller and get excited because the girls are excited. At his age, it's more for you to get out of the house.....
Yep, I'm totally on board with what stacy said. Read whatever you want right now because soon he will want the same book over and over and over and over and over and over...you get the idea. Right now it's just about hearing your voice and sounds and the interaction. The board books are great since at that age they want to start grabbing at it too so let him hold it and turn the pages or whatever as he seems interested. When DS #1 was little I would just give him a book and then I would read out loud something that I was already reading.
We started going to the zoo regularly as soon as DS was old enough to walk really well...at about 18 months. Then we only went to close exhibits with lots of movement like the otters. It's hard when they are little for them to look far into a corner for a bear or lion or something further away especially if they are just sleeping. He really loved the zoo from the day we started taking him. Now DS #2 is only 8 months old and he doesn't enjoy it but I think the getting out of the house part is good for him.
It looks like you got a lot of good answers to he book question - pictures are great for Jackson. In several months, board books will be great as he will be able to hold them and turn the pages, and as he gets closer to one you can read "story books" but will probably need to simplify the story to short phrases/sentences on the pages.
We have been taking him to the zoo since he was, I think, weeks old.
We had a membership and loved having somewhere to go that had both indoor and outdoor options. He loves it this year - not just the animals although he loves when they are moving or making sounds, but the people and sights. We keep it cheap so we pack a picnic and have a nice family afternoon at the zoo. The nice thing with having our membership is that we can go for a couple hours and not stress at how much parking, etc. cost. It is so much more fun than when we felt we had to get there when they opened and leave at close to "get our monies worth". We have been choosing a section to do depending on weather and special events - last time we did the children's zoo where he could get close up and even touch some animals. The time before we did houses. The time before that it was the new bear exhibit, etc. I think it is nice to have a change of pace from our usual outings. And we love seeing the animals and learning about them.
Expanding on the reading stuff - another important component is hearing how we combine words, listening to the phrasing and cadence of our language, etc. So, reading anything with sentences gives him the opportunity to hear how we use language, combine words to express thoughts, change our intonation, use pauses, vary inflection, etc.
We have only taken DD to the zoo twice (and a farm once, and an aquarium twice), and it was as great to her as being pushed around the neighborhood in a stroller. I mean, she enjoyed being outside and walking/riding while eating snacks, but she didn't seem to care about the animals - or even see most of them, for that matter. However, she has become super interested in animals and the concept of zoo vs. farm within the last few weeks. We are doing the zoo again next week. I am excited to see if it is different now (she is 22 months - last time we went she was about 12 months)
Thanks for all of the great responses. I definitely do agree that the tone is important. DS loves to watch either DH or I talk to someone - Watches our mouth intently, expressions, etc.
Guess I'll bust out the trashy romance novels for the next few months. LOL
It wasn't until around 14 months that my daughter started getting into the zoo. Before that she liked to go, but didn't really pay too much attention to the animals. She loved going places and was more interested in other people when she was an infant. She loves the aquarium more than the zoo.
As an infant, my daughter liked longer books and would be content listening to me talk for a long time. She's a year and a half and only has the attention span for shorter books. She's always liked books with pictures of faces and is starting to get into animals. I don't think she really understands stories yet.
Here are some ways I incorporate reading into my DD's day:
--read board books with LO on my lap, facing me (that way she can see the pictures and look at my face for emotional cues, etc). If I'm reading a book about something specific (say bathtime) then I'll grab a toy duck, towel, and whatever else is mentioned in the book so that I can help create a connection. Little ones don't understand that pictures in books are "symbols" that represent something "real" in their world...but they will eventually (sooner than you'd imagine, I'm sure) so this helps, IMO. Let your child turn the pages, or at least wait until they've completely finished exploring a page before moving on...
--read books (your choice- grown up) aloud while your child plays independently (on a blanket, etc). Good for you, good for baby to hear your voice. They can absorb the cadence of the language. Also, read silently while your child plays independently. Kids will mimic the things their parents do and if they see you read it will build an interest in reading.
--I like to read the same books at certain times of day to help with transition-- yes even at the infant stage. At bedtime, we read as many books as she wants and always conclude with the same book-- that way she knows it's time for bed.
Mostly, have fun and follow your LO's lead!
Oh, and I found my LO was always interested in things at the zoo-- just show them 'age appropriate things'....under the age of 1 she loved the giant fish tank (just an example). It never hurts to expose your children to new things. You can also follow up your visit by reading/talking about the animals you saw that day!
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Right now we read a lot of board books too, some Eric Carle and one that has a touch and feel theme with fur for a dogs ear and says what the animal would say. It's cute, colorful, and DD seems to enjoy it. I also love Shel Silverstein purely for rhyme sake.
We started going to the zoo a few weeks ago when DD could sit up in her stroller and she loved it! She would giggle when she could see certain animals (some were harder than others), and I would get her out to see some (we have kangaroos at ours, and you can walk in the pin with them). We have been twice, but I will be taking her again once this heat wave breaks.
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