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Hawaii Babies
lelekay
member
books
lelekay
member
Let me start by saying that I am a big reader. I always have been since I was a little kid. I love books, and I have a huge book collection. I consider them something like old friends (I hope this is not too weird of a sentiment). MH, however, is not a reader. He's very intelligent, and can write better than most people I know, but just doesn't enjoy reading for pleasure.
I really want Henry to be a reader and enjoy books like me, not like his father. He has a big book collection thus far (probably at least 75 books), and we have been "reading" them since he was born. The problem is that he doesn't seem to enjoy it very much. He's a very active boy and doesn't like to sit still for a book. He likes to turn the pages, but he'll turn a few, then slam the book shut and crawl away. I'm aware that his attention span is very short at this age....I'm not expecting him to sit for a long book. But I just thought that by now he'd enjoy sitting in my lap reading a short board book once in a while, and it seems like he doesn't.
However, lately he has been crawling over to a book and playing with it on his own once in a while. He's open it (often upside down) and turn a few pages, pointing to things (usually yellow things - it is clearly his favorite color!). So my question is: should I continue to try to pull him into my lap a few times a day and "read" a book together while he squirms, or should I let that go for a while and just let him explore books in his own way by leaving them around for him to play with. Obviously, I can do a little of both, but I guess I'm more wondering if I should keep trying to read with him, or let it go for now. I don't want to force it and have him hate reading time, you know?
Any other suggestions?
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Re: books
I say just keep trying. Kaya can't sit still for very long either but she loves to read. In the morning when she wakes up the first thing she does is bring me books and say, "book, book". BUT she didn't always like reading and we just kept reading to her every day. Also, sometimes she will bring us a book and then get up in the middle of it to get a different book. I just let her go, although it annoys me that she brought me that book in the first place! LOL.
Miss A has loved books from the beginning so my advice is limited.
I would keep trying but I wouldn't force it too much. like if he fusses or wants to get away I wouldn't try to keep him there for story time... but you could still read aloud while he is playing, and make exaggerated statements like "wow, look at _____!" or "ooooooh! look at how ______" etc and try to pique his interest in what you're reading.
you might also want to try various types of books. go to your local library and check out a bunch
I think eventually he'll come around, esp as he gets older
Jaime & Brent
Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005
My Food Blog - Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats
I do think it's a phase and B doesn't sit for very long either but here are some things that we tried...
Variety could help--sometimes they take interest in books that we wouldn't think they'd like--B used to fuss when we read this one book in the past but we started to do movements with him for each action on the page and it's one of his favorite books now! So "spicing it up" with corresponding actions to the story or having different variety of books (size/colors/lift-the-flaps/touch-and-feel/etc) could help? Another thing (although I don't know how feasible it is for you) is that MH and I do the bedtime story together, so I think B likes it because it's also a time when the whole family gets together. I'm sure there are other things you can do to make it fun but those are just the ones we've tried. So, I'd personally try a bit more with some new tactics and if it doesn't seem to help, then maybe the best thing is to let him explore on his own.
Like mrspresley, I wouldn't force it and I'm sure he'll come around eventually, so maybe it's just a matter of waiting it out. GL!
Ditto this for me.
One thing I do that might help is to change out the books that they can access a few times a week. They have a BIG library, but I only ever have about 8 books at a time in their play area. That way I can constantly swap them around so they're always "new" and interesting, and one of the first things they do when they first go into their playroom is to check out what's currently on the bookshelf.
We also have "story time books" (regular books with flimsy pages) and "play books" (the board books that they can access whenever they want). They know it's special sit-and-listen/watch time when I get out a story time book, but they tend to have shorter attention spans and just flip through books for 30-60 seconds at a time with their play books. Not sure if separating the books like that would be helpful for you?
Also, do you have many interactive books? The kinds with textures, flaps, etc? Those might be the most interesting to a child his age.
ETA: I forgot to add - if you just can't get him interested, I wouldn't stress. The studies I've read all show that it's early and ongoing exposure to books that's key. So just having them around him in the house, and seeing you reading your own books is excellent for him.
Thanks, everyone, for the advice!
Now that I think about it, I do tend to have the same bunches of books in each play area all the time. I agree that it might be smart to only have a few out at a time and switch them out more often to keep it interesting. And I have already started to keep reading the book aloud and make it sound really interesting, even after he's already squirmed away. And I am embarrassed to say that he has never even been to the library yet, even though we can walk to it. I guess I was just worried that he'd be too loud and active there. But maybe it's time we check it out, even for a very brief visit. He likes going places, so maybe going to a new place with tons of books might be good. I think you're right, Lisa, in that I can't force it, but I can just keep exposing him to books.
ETA: He does love touch-and-feel books, and we do have a few. Anyone have suggestions for others that you love? We've got a few of the "That's Not My....." (Puppy, Snowman, and Monkey) books, but any other ideas?
definitely take him for story time at the library when there are other kids there...it may be fun for him. (i'm so jealous you are w/in walking distance of one!!!!) even if you don't do that you can go pick up books and add to your "library" at home. i find that she will LOVE a book that i bring home from the library but after about a week or so she is bored with it so i have to return it and get another one. our library is great in that you can renew 99 times (with each check out period being 3 wks) so if she is absolutely attached to a book we can keep it for quite some time before having to return it
we have several great touch n feel books. i'm not at home right now but when i get back i'll let you know which ones we have that she likes. and i was very surprised when the sitter brought them over, but Miss A loved "I Spy" books even though i thought she'd be way too young for them. them make a series for younger kids and it's a great way to teach them how to identify various objects/colors/etc.
Jaime & Brent
Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005
My Food Blog - Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats
Everyone else had great advice, I'll just add that Elyse isn't super into books either and it was worrying me because I too love reading. Many of my friends said that their children didn't "enjoy" bedtime stories or being read to until they were about 2.5 or 3. But that said all kids are different.
The books Elyse is into are ones she can do something with. She LOVED (and broke) a book called "Tails" where each page had a different animal with tails that did different things or felt differently. She also loves books that have different textures in them. It's just been in the last couple weeks that she's really started loving them. I just bought one when we were in Costco and was letting her play with it while I did the rest of my shopping. She kept taking my hand off the cart to make my finger touch each page. It was really cute
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