Reading to babies is great for language development as it exposes them to sounds and rhythms of speech. A study at Brown University School of Medicine in Providence, Rhode Island found that 18- to 25-month-olds whose parents said they read to them regularly for a year could say and understand more words than those whose parents had not. Reading is beneficial in many ways, and it is also a great way to bond with your young child. If you are searching for the best childcare Greenville NC has to offer, Children’s World Learning Center is an excellent place to start. 
From birth to six months, your baby’s vision is still developing. Choose books with little to no text and large, high-contrast pictures. You may also consider books that are interactive, such as those with mirrors, different textures to feel, etc. You can even read your magazines and books aloud, as babies this young will not be focused on comprehending the words. Reading to your child at this age is all about your tone of voice.
Babies may begin to understand some of the words being read to them from ages 7 to 12 months, especially words that are used in their everyday life, like mommy, daddy, milk, or bottle. Consider reading books that only have one picture on each page; if your baby hears you name something that he recognizes, they will begin to learn that pictures stand for real things. It is a good idea to keep a library of durable books such as those made of board, cloth, or vinyl that can withstand chewing and rough handling.
From 13 to 18 months, you can begin introducing books with one or two sentences on a page. Act out the story with lots of expression; for example, make animal noises when reading about animals. Ask questions like “What does the cow say?” and ask them to point to things that are pictured in real life: “Where are your ears?” From 15 to 18 months, they may be able to answer with a single word, so ask “What’s that?” while pointing to a picture in the book. Once they answer, add more adjectives: “Yes, train. That’s a big red train.”
From 19 to 24 months, your toddler will likely ask for the same book every night. The familiarity is calming, and although reading the same book over and over may have you reciting it in your sleep, it does have a learning benefit. Experts believe that this repetition helps children make sense of new words and remember them.
Children’s World Learning Center, the best childcare Greenville NC, offers infant and toddler programs to cultivate your child’s love of learning.
At Children’s World Learning Center, we know that the early years of life matter because early experiences affect the brain. As a child’s brain grows, the quality of the experiences that a child has creates either a sturdy or fragile foundation for all of the development and behaviors that follow. Parents want to make educated choices for their families, and getting things right the first time is better than trying to fix them later. Contact us today!
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