We think of reading to a child as a quiet activity and sometimes it is – but not always at the beginning of toddler reading. Books open up new worlds for toddlers and can bring a shared experience of fun and playfulness with their special grownup. Toddlers by the age of 18 to 20 months are excited about words. Their receptive language is quite high (they can understand many words, even if they can’t say them).
Here are some things to think about when you are looking for toddler books:
- Try to find books with colorful pages
- Look for books with animals and objects they can identify
- Look for books with few words and easy-to-recognize pictures
- Look for books with rhymes and easy alliterations.
Some toddlers will want to chew on a book or hold it themselves – so while they do, use another book to point out pictures or talk about what you see. After a few minutes, your toddler may grab that book as well, but persevere playfully. Point out colors and shapes, look for the kitty in the book and then look for the stuffed kitty in the corner. This back- and-forth interaction is a way to encourage more active participation and reading.
Because toddlers can be very active, try showing her just a page in a book. Ask your toddler to find her ball and then show her the picture of the ball in the book. Put a camel puppet on your hand and let the camel find the other animals in a zoo book. Little by little, your toddler will become more involved in the book.
Story times can be engaging for toddlers, but sitting still in a group is counter-intuitive for many young children. This is not predictive of reading success, but a part of toddler development, when dumping books is more meaningful than reading a story. This behavior passes over time, so hang in there.
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Marsha Greenberg is a therapist in New York City. She is the author of the newly released book, Raising Your Toddler, by Globe Pequot Press. She has masters degrees in Child and Family Development and Social Work from the University of Michigan. As the Director of the Health Systems Child Care Program for over 14 years, she was responsible for over 250 children between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 years of age. Marsha teaches in the Early Childhood Special Education department at NYU and has a private psychotherapy practice in NYC. Marsha is the mother of three grown sons and has three grandsons (aged 4 and 18 months and 4 months) with a new grandchild on the way.
