How to read to a toddler

Some children read voraciously while others will just look at pictures and move on. Books are just too slow and boring for them and they miss the deeply enriching experience and joy that reading brings. Sometimes this joy doesn’t come naturally and needs some prior exposure and engagement with books. 

Now, maybe you love classical music, or appreciate art, science, or nature deeply ... some kind of prior engagement may have helped you experience the joy in going beyond just surface level, given you the satisfaction of drinking from a deeper well. This post explores how to start children off so that reach this deeper level of appreciation for reading as they grow.

The easiest way to do this is to introduce the habit to children when they are young, even as babies or toddlers. At this age, children naturally gravitate toward pictures and stories and love spending time in a parent’s lap. They relish dedicated time with a parent who explains the exciting things about the new world around them. These positive, nourishing experiences with books at an early age can hook them onto reading for life. 

Choose sturdy board books or fabrics books with simple pictures. Sit with your baby or toddler on your lap and point out the pictures. Don’t worry about reading the words, bring the pictures alive to them in your native language and in a way that the child will enjoy. Find sensory ways to bring the story alive like making sounds for animals, vehicles, rain etc. It’s important to follow your child’s lead. When they lose interest, put the book down to come back to it another day. 

It’s valuable to have a few books available to choose from, so that the child can select what they want to read. At this age, children will want to come back to the same book again and again. It can be tiring for the parent, but the repeated readings are valuable for your child’s development as they are reinforcing their learning or digging deeper with each reading. 

As children get older, they can listen to longer, more complex stories. Adapt to their pace and capacity, continuing to offer high-quality books, and reading to them with interest and engagement. Kitiki’s mission is to provide this variety of reading material, to appeal to different tastes, personalities of children.

Side note: Stories don’t always have to come from books. Grandma’s tales style storytelling can ignite the imagination without pictures - it is developmentally important for babies and toddlers to have this type of storytelling as well. Reading to them on the other hand, has its own value, especially in acquiring a taste for books and instilling a lifelong love of them. 

Additional reading resources on this topic: 

https://www.brighthorizons.com/article/toddler/the-importance-of-reading-to-babies-and-infants

https://www.brighthorizons.com/article/parenting/benefits-of-reading-at-bedtime