Top 4 Tips For Reading With Your Toddler - There are so many transitions for you and your child when your baby becomes a toddler. It's out with the baby nappies and hopefully the majority of sleepless nights too. One of the funnest activities you can have with your toddler is reading. Here, we've listed the top four tips on how to get the most out of reading time with your toddler.
Take time out of everyday to read aloud with your toddler
It is important to take time out of everyday for reading. This time should be a time of day you both look forward to. It should be fun and exciting. Be animated and laugh a lot. Listen to the way you tell the story. Be loud and exciting. If you're having fun and enjoying the time reading, your toddler will too.
It is also a good idea to read at least three stories a day. Even if they are the same three. Children will need to hear a thousand stories before they will begin to read.
You should spend at least ten minutes a day reading with your little one.
Talk to them about the other aspects of the book as you read
It is important that as you read you talk about other aspects of the book. Such as the pictures and what will happen next. Point to images and ask them what they are. Perhaps you have read this story with them several times and you might want to ask them what they think will happen next.
Talk about other things that relate to the book. It is great to just talk to your toddler and expose them to lots of words and language.
Choose the right type of book
The type of books you choose to read with your toddler should be short, have rhythm and repetition. This is a great way to help children learn to read. Repetition is so important. Encourage your toddler to finish the rhyme with you. It may seem obvious, but it is also important to read over and over the books that your toddler loves as they are more likely to engage with something they truly enjoy.
It is important that you don't teach reading as such or get tense around books.
Play fun games with your child as you read
To keep reading fun, it is a good idea to play games as you read. For instance, pick out letters from the pages you are reading from. Or pick out with them the letters on the page their name starts with. Ask them to finish a rhyme for you. Keep it upbeat and entertaining.
When your child is a toddler there is so much for them to learn. Their transition fromnappies to using a potty/toilet, reading and socialising with other children. The most important thing to remember is to have fun with your toddler and enjoy activities like reading with them as much as possible during this precious time.
