How do you

Starishna · November 2013

"Read" to a one year old when she grabs the books and eats them? I am a FTM so I'm sorry if this sounds stupid. I just don't see what to do. Do you make up a story?

aboynamedbarry · November 2013

I point out things like colors, shapes, animals or characters... if she leaves one page open long enough ill read from it otherwise sometimes yes, I make something up

just roll with it, she's learning just by exploring the books even if not reading them

dufferoo · November 2013

Ha! Yeah I have the same problem with my son. But I will say some babies are just naturally more interested in calm quiet activities like reading books, whether they understsnd the story or not. My daughter absolutely loved reading together when she was a baby which made me feel like I was kind of a great mom, but now I realize that was more just her natural disposition!

traveltheworld · November 2013

We had/have lots of board books and cloth books, so DS chewed/drooled to his heart's content on those. I usually just grabbed another book and kept reading while he did his own thing. It was a phase. Then came the "run around like a crazy person" phase - I would close the bedroom door and keep reading as he ran around the room exploring different things. He then had the "flip through the books as fast as he possibly can" phase - so for that one I had to shorten the story and bought books that had one line or one word per page so I could keep up. Finally now at 16 months he'd sit and actively read sometimes. It helps that he recognizes a lot of the animals/objects in the books now. For example, he is obsessed with cars and ducks, so we have quite a few books about ducks and cars. He would usually sit through those.

I think it's just about building that habit. We also have "morning reading time" every Saturday and Sunday where DH and I would sit and read the newspaper or a book and we would try to get DS to sit in his little chair to read his books. We never got any reading done for the first few months as DS would interrupt us all the time, but the past weekend he sat and flipped through his books for about 7 minutes on his own. I take that as a huge victory!

pb_bride · November 2013

I agree it's something (a routine or habit) you have to work on. DS spent the first many months drooling and eating his books (even some board books were destroyed by his drool). But DH and DS had a reading routine - every night after dinner DH will sit DS on the couch and read a book or 2, while I clean up. They started months and months ago. At first, it was hard to keep DS stay still for more than 10 seconds, but DH would just continue, sometimes hugging DS so he couldn't escape.

I'd say for the past 2 months now, DS actually sits still for this evening storytime 80% of the time. DS helps with turning the pages. It's simply a routine he has gotten used to.

During the daytime, I'm home with DS and we usually have a dozen or so books lying about. It used to be a fleeting moment when he would open a book and look at it for a few seconds. Nowadays, he will actually pick a book, bring it to me and sit still so I can read it to him. Often he wants it read at least 2-3 times in a row.

Sorry this is turning into a novel (no pun intended), but I'd say just keep on trying and try incoorperate reading into part of a routine,

jennajoybeck · November 2013

My DS's pediatrician said its fine if he wanders around the room while you're reading. He'll keep coming back when he's interested. Just keep reading.

sunnyday016 · November 2013

He had no interest in books up until about 2 months ago. He would just shut my hands in the book. Now we are able to look at a few books together as part of his bedtime routine. He still won't sit still for me to actually read him the whole book, so we just look at the pictures together.

Tapthathank · November 2013

We just started incorporating books into our routine early on. We read to him before naps and before bed. He will snuggle and sit calmly for a couple of books at those times. Other times of the day he is running around like a crazy man and will go through 10 books, not letting me read every line on a page. But other times he sits calmly and "lounges" back while letting me read and he will turn the pages. So it is pretty much based on his mood!

If you are struggling with her eating the pages, maybe you could give her a book to gnaw on (if it doesn't bother you) and you can have a different book to actually read to her.

I wouldn't worry about it, just keep trying!

ashiscute · November 2013

Give her a book to chew on while you read another? I think I have most of my kids books memorized enough that if flips threw the pages I can keep saying the words. Also, try just talking about what's in the pictures together to get her attention. As long as you are exposing her to books and reading then I wouldn't worry.

zbeesma86 · November 2013

DD is in a 'let me do it' stage so when I start to read she snatches the book and holds it like she is reading- she will trace the words with her finger and jibber jabber. SO cute. I usually let her go with it then when she seems to be done I'll chime in and read while she holds it.

Or give her a book to chew/view and you read a different one. I've done that and she tends to be content for a whole 8-9 page kid book. haha

Want a personalized experience?

How do you

Re: How do you

Choose Another Board

Search Boards