Our children looked at this picture word book so much that the binding came off!
Your toddler is probably on the go most of the day, exploring his/her environment with constant energy. Finding a moment to read with your toddler may be more difficult, but still very important. Toddlers are learning new words very quickly. According to the Child Development Institute, a toddler goes from knowing 5-20 words at 18 months to 150-300 words at 24 months. Since they are learning new words so fast, it only makes sense that reading to them is key to this development.
Tips for reading to your toddler
Here are some key ideas to keep in mind when reading to your toddler.
- Before nap and bedtime is a great time to read to your toddler because it helps them settle down for their sleep.
- Books that have simple pictures of animals and every day objects are great for developing new vocab at this age.
- Let your child decide how long to stay on one page. She may find some pages more interesting than others.
- Don’t just read the words on the pages, but talk about the pictures. Ask your child simple questions like, “Where is the dog’s bone?” “Can you see the sun in the sky?”
- Point to the words on the page as you read so that he understands that the words represent pictures and ideas.
- Be enthusiastic about reading! Your toddler will learn that reading is fun.
If you have time make your own picture books. Staples pieces of paper together and glue simple picture onto the pages. Write a few words on each page. Or buy an old photo album and put family pictures in it with a few words under each picture.
I would love to hear your comments or stories that you might have about reading to your toddler.