Do you read to your toddler?

Ziegeficker · December 2013

I have all these great books for Henry, but he's not the kind of kid who likes to cuddle or sit still while I read him a story (at bedtime or otherwise). I bought Henry a personalized story that included names of his grandparents in Texas and my late mom, but I can't seem to fit reading into our schedule unless I want to chase him around the house reading stories. I kind of always figured I'd read him bedtime stories a bit later in his life, but I know some people advocate reading to kids even Henry's age. So I'm just curious -- Do you read to your son or daughter at night or during the day? Does he or she seem interested or engaged?

navyandviolet · December 2013

Yes. I remember once a long time ago that a child's love of reading develops at a young age. And just because they are running around seeming to not be listening they really are. So read even if they don't seem interested. Because some kiddos need to explore their environment while learning.

stephcarter · December 2013

B used to have no interest in reading. Then my SIL bought her "boo bunny" for her 1st bday she became obsessed. It was the only book she wanted me to read and she made me read it over and over again. Eventually she became interested in others and now she makes me read to her before every nap and bed time. She picks her books and climbs in the chair and waits. Boo bunny is still her favorite though. If you're feeling down because you'd like to read more with him, maybe he's just waiting for the perfect book to come along?

chricast · December 2013

We are constantly reading. She brings books to us all day and sits her self down in our lap for a story it is adorable. If she gets up to keep playing I finish the story even though she isn't sitting down. We have books for nap time and books for bedtime.

PixelPosy · December 2013

Yes, we read to her every night and before naps. Not every book holds her interest. She is more engaged in books with vibrant pictures and if we make up funny voices or movements to go with the story. She will "read" on her own and especially likes to look at the Leslie Patricelli books. These books don't have a lot of words so we make up little stories as we look at the pictures. She also loves books with things to do, like flaps to peak under, mirrors to make faces in, or textures to feel.

pb_bride · December 2013

Yes, we read books every day (I SAH) - usually 30+ minutes during the day, and another 10-15 mins after dinner. This didn't happen overnight, however. DH started reading to DS after dinner many many months ago. When he first started, it was a struggle to even do a page or 2, before DS started crawling away. Then DS learned to turn the page and he slowly got interested. Perseverance is the key here!

I started reading to DS during the day when he was 5 or 6 months? At first, he barely paid attention, but I just kept on reading the book aloud in front of him, even if he was playing with something else. Also, having books lying around helps so he has easy access to the books. Eventually he got used to the idea of reading books with me.

Most of DS's board books are in bins, and he can pull them out himself. Every day around 5pm after his diaper change, I tell him to pick out books. He will go to the bin and dig through the books, then bring me ones he wants me to read. Some books he will want me to read over and over again like 10 times! We have about 2-3 dozen board books in his room, another 2-3 dozen in the living room.

ETA: I think it is important not to have high expectation at the start... Don't expect your toddler will sit quietly and read an entire book with you. Other PPs have good point of finding the 'right' book to start. Some books DS absolutely loves no matter what, while others are meh. There are some books I adore but he doesn't care much. God knows why, but we have this board book on president Lincoln and he wants me to read it a gazillion times every.single.day. The moral of the story is, don't buy any books if you cannot bear to read it over and over again.

Ziegeficker · December 2013

Sounds like I need to get going! You guys are making me feel behind. We keep all his books up on a bookshelf, maybe putting them down where he could see them would help. I know they read to him at daycare.

stephcarter · December 2013

I wouldn't stress out about it too much if you are interacting with him on a regular basis. Keep trying, but don't drive yourself crazy. Before she'd let me read to her, I made it a point to talk to Bailey non stop. I still do. And I talk to her like I'm having a conversation with a grown person. Sometimes I think that strangers think I'm crazy when I'm out shopping with her. I figured that it couldn't be that much different than reading to her.

Ziegeficker · December 2013

I wouldn't stress out about it too much if you are interacting with him on a regular basis. Keep trying, but don't drive yourself crazy. Before she'd let me read to her, I made it a point to talk to Bailey non stop. I still do. And I talk to her like I'm having a conversation with a grown person. Sometimes I think that strangers think I'm crazy when I'm out shopping with her. I figured that it couldn't be that much different than reading to her.

I am right there with you! I always talk to Henry about things we are seeing and doing when we are out in public. He's a very curious little guy.

CnAnA · December 2013

alice has about 3 books that she likes us to read. Mainly it's 2 or two words per page, and only about 5 pages each. Then she's done, and SHE wants to read it. In the floor, away from me. So I read fast to her so we can get through a book. She does bring us books though, and climbs into our lap so we can read it to her. And when we ask her if she wants us to read her a book, she pretty well stops in her tracks to see what book we have.

Ziegeficker · December 2013

I'm like you, Zieg and I feel terrible that we don't read more. I'm going to try harder. Also, can you email me where you made the personalized book? I'd love to make Cora something like that. Thanks Hun!

I'll PM you the link to the exact book I got, but they are I See Me books for anyone else who is curious. And @LauraT25, they are pretty affordable from what I saw!

Ziegeficker · December 2013

Also, I am jealous of all of you with babies who like to curl up and read with you. My son is always on the move and screams like I'm restraining him if I try to hug or sit still with him. Sigh...

Ziegeficker · December 2013

LauraT25 said:

@Ziegeficker for about two months K was like that, cuddling is a more recent development. Maybe Henry will chill out eventually.

Sometimes he'll sit in my lap while he plays with toys. But if he suspects I'm relishing and enjoying the sweet cuddles, he immediately gets up. It's like how he senses it's time to wake up from a nap as soon as I sit down with a hot plate of food.

Mrs_Lady · December 2013

Yep we read every day! If he is interested in moving tell him to help turn the pages or after each page do a cheer or something!

wesleycrusher · December 2013

WanderingStars23 said:

Yes, reading to your kids is important. Talking and interacting is more important. As long as you're talking and explaining and developing his language skills and vocabulary, the reading can wait a bit until he's ready. He is one. You have lots of time.

Agreed. I read to DD but part of it is because when I'm home all day sometimes it's hard for me to remember to really be talking to her. Or I say the same things over and over -like "no" and "don't touch that" haha. I try to be conscious of how much I am speaking since she's not in daycare- I think there they hear so much more. By reading books she is hearing different words spoken in different patterns and rhymes, so even if she isn't sitting still she's still hearing that.

I read a good article on the importance of talking and listening to your children: https://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/09/children_s_language_development_talk_and_listen_to_them_from_birth.html

hilsy85 · December 2013

We read to him multiple times a day. At minimum, he gets read a book before each nap and before bed, but we almost always read at least 5-10 other books (often the same ones over and over) throughout the day if we are home. I think it's really important to expose them to books and reading at an early age--but obviously if they don't want to sit still for a story I wouldn't force it! Even just having books around is important.

Wally3 · December 2013

I read to ds2 before bed and naps every day. I start when he was really little. He will pay attention to a short board book at these times. During the day he will bring me books to read but will only sit for a page or 2.

stephcarter · December 2013

Ziegeficker said:
Also, I am jealous of all of you with babies who like to curl up and read with you. My son is always on the move and screams like I'm restraining him if I try to hug or sit still with him. Sigh...

I've got a rocker with the ottoman for my feet. She sits in the chair and makes me sit on the ottoman when I read to her now. No snuggles here!

chricast · December 2013

@JohnJacobJingleHeimer Emma got "who loves me" a personalized book for Christmas from here:
https://www.redenvelope.com/personalized-books-RPEBO?ref=HomeNoRef&navContent=T%3ababy+%26+kids%3apersonalized+books&navLocation=T%3a5-10%3a5-10

OP Emma also enjoys her interactive story buddies from Hallmark. The stuffed animals that respond to the story while you are reading. We have the Posey and Bell story buddies. Sometimes I read them to her at nap time when she is relaxed and snuggled in my lap she will sit still for a whole book then.

StefanieM522 · December 2013

Wesley just started crawling into my lap for storytime and we can only get a few pages in before he is running out of the room to do something else. I do talk to him alot and explain what I'm doing and what things around us. I can't wait until we don't have to keep reading the same three books over and over. Wesley loves the feel books and the books with flaps.

Ziegeficker · December 2013

chricast said:

@JohnJacobJingleHeimer Emma got "who loves me" a personalized book for Christmas from here:
https://www.redenvelope.com/personalized-books-RPEBO?ref=HomeNoRef&navContent=T%3ababy+%26+kids%3apersonalized+books&navLocation=T%3a5-10%3a5-10

That's the book I made for Henry!

blondie42107 · December 2013

We read every day at bedtime. Ds2 gets shorter books than Ds1. Sometimes we read to both at the same time.

pmduggan01 · December 2013

DH and I added reading to DS's bedtime routine when he was about six months old (in hopes of it helping him sleep thru the night). He still doesn't STTN; however, DS loves books -- to where he'll "read" one while I'm nursing him -- funny. He also does this while I'm changing his diaper.

We go to the library every other week where DS can play next to me while I pick out a few books for him. I also bought some very gently used board books at the thrift shop for $0.69 each -- including some of those Pottery Barn titles.

CnAnA · December 2013

Alice was a little bookworm today! She kept bringing me books and plopping down in my lap. She did this for like 30 minutes straight! I totally thought of this post.

Ziegeficker · December 2013

I read some to Henry last night, and he ate it up! He even came by to sit on my lap for a few seconds ;-) But it was really fun. He liked taking the books out of my hand and running around with them. Somewhere in between all of that, though, I got to read him some stories. He really liked the books with flaps.

Rachelilly23 · December 2013

Any book he brings to me during the day I typically start to read, but he won't sit for more than a couple pages before moving onto something else. Before bed, he will sit through one or two full books.

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