Sharing Books with Children. How?

It is never too early to introduce books to your child. Whenever you read to your child, s/he looks at the picture and hears your reading, her/his brain cells begin to make connections. Repetition is a great way to learn for young children. Young children will not feel boring to hear the same stories over and over again. In fact, it helps strengthen brain connections.


Tips to cultivate love towards books from the very earliest years:
Babies:

• choose cloth or vinyl books that are washable
• big hard board books with colorful picture but less wording
• hold your child in your lap and circle your arms gently around her as you read and talk about the book
• do something different when s/he loses interest as s/he has short attention span

Toddlers:

• books on topics that interest your toddler. Truck? cars? animals? daily routines?
• choose sturdy, cardboard books for easy handle and flip
• creative voice to imitate the characters
• involve him/her in the story

Preschoolers:

• attending story times in library
• expression in voice
• choose books and stories with rhyme and repetition e.g. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Martin; Hop on Pop, The Ear Book and many other great books by Dr. Seuss.
• run your fingers under the words as you read
• encourage talking by asking about the picture: who, what, when, where, why and how

(Building Your Baby's Brain: A Parent's Guide to the First Five Years, Diane Trister Dodge & Cate Heroman)

Parents, let's begin from home, your child's most secure and relaxing place. Create a small library in your house, or as least a attractive book rack filled with good books. Make variety of books accessible to your child according to their ages and interests. Set a story-time routine everyday. Children learn from adults. Logically, a reading parent raise up a reading child ;)

Visiting library is so great in helping children to fall in love with books. Never waste your public library card in getting as many books as you can for your children for free.

Find great books with low price at green store like Goodwill, Salvation Army and Consignment Sales.