Did you know? Reading aloud is the single most important thing you can do to help a child prepare for reading and learning. Your child’s brain grows incredibly fast, reaching approximately 85% of adult size by age three. Reading aloud to your child every day for at least 15 minutes helps to build your child’s vocabulary, pre-literacy skills, and form social-emotional bonds. You may think it’s silly to read to a baby, but babies are great listeners! By nine months of age, babies can tell which sounds in their native language are important, and while they may not be able to follow the plot of a story just yet, talking to them, describing what you’re doing, singing, playing, and of course, reading aloud can be a perfect way to introduce your child to a variety of words.

Talking frequently and reading aloud with your child can also help older children learn new words, grammar, and concepts that you may not using during everyday conversations. Not only does reading aloud boost vocabulary and comprehension, it’s also a great time for you and your child to bond. Snuggle up together with a favorite book and give them that one-on-one time they may be craving. Of course, there will be times kids just can’t sit still long enough to read, and that’s ok! Don’t be afraid to read or narrate their movements in the background while they hop about the room; most likely, they are still listening.

Here are some more tips you can use for reading aloud each day:

• It’s never too early to start reading aloud to your baby. Choose books that have real pictures and bold contrasts.



• Smile and make silly faces while reading- this will help your child make that emotional connection with you by looking, listening, and feeling.

• Use sturdy board books with babies and allow them to explore by holding them, turning the pages, and yes, even chewing. Chewing books is normal and it’s a sign of teething!

• Read slowly and exaggerate your words. Your baby is figuring out which sounds are important to learn to talk.

• Favorite books are great, but also pick out new ones that provide new words and experiences. All these words will add up quickly!

• Reading doesn’t have to be reserved for bedtime- try reading aloud at bath time, playtime, and mealtimes!

Remember, you are your child’s first and most important teacher. Babies learn best from interactions with you, and you can help feed these interactions by reading aloud to them for 15 minutes each day. By doing this, you’ll be helping them grow their vocabulary and knowledge, bond and provide an enriching experience, and foster a love of books and learning. If you have trouble accessing physical books, be sure to refer to our previous blog posts on alternative ways to achieve literacy, and free resources for attaining books. The Early Learning Coalition also offers “Anytime is 3T’s Time” parent sessions that introduce parents, caregivers, and providers to the concept of the 3 T’s- Tune In, Talk More, and Take Turns. In-Person and virtual trainings can be found on our training calendar: https://www.elcpalmbeach.org/elc-pbc-calendar