One of the greatest challenges facing any baby is learning to speak their own language, whether they are English, Italian, Spanish or any other nationality. From their first little babbles and baby sounds onwards, they are learning to speak, and at an astonishing rate.
Our babes are having to learn not only what objects are, but the word we use to describe those objects, and what they are used for. They have to learn about colour, sound, people, animals, inanimate things like houses, furniture, pencils and every other part of the world that surrounds them.
I believe passionately that there are two major ways in which we can help them learn, and have proven my theory over and over.
The first way is to do what nearly all of us do with our children, and that is talk to them. Not at them, but to them. Have conversations with them, even before they can respond with an answer. Don’t feel silly asking your 11 month old if she can see the chilli sauce on the supermarket shelf!! From the first day of their lives babies love our voices, particularly mummy’s voice as she chats to them, sings to them, whatever she is doing that requires her to speak.
When they point at something, tell them what it is they are showing you, and what you use it for!! It is all sinking in, as tiny ones are like sponges for knowledge! Point things out to baby yourself whether it is a butterfly or a lamp post.
The second way to help them learn their language is by reading to them. Read, read, read. It doesn’t matter what it is, or whether you are a good reader yourself. By the time they come to where they can read for themselves, you will be much more accomplished at reading also. Read to them from even the first few weeks, it is not the content of the page, but again it is your voice they respond to.
I have never known of a child who didn’t love to have a book read to them. And I have never known a child who was read to who didn’t learn to speak early and well. Most of these children started learning to read early as well. But apart from these obvious benefits – cuddling up and reading to your child, and with your child, is immense fun for both of you.
When your toddler asks you for “more book?” you will be so proud of what you have accomplished together. And you will have set the pattern for them that ‘learning is fun’.
Written by a mum: Carol Staples
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i couldnt agree with this more, reading to babies and children is so important. ive been reading to my baby since she was newborn but should really try and do it more x
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This is so true. My Son is only 13.5 months and because my husband and I have put Reading books with him into our daily routine he absolutely loves books and already have shelves full. He is able to reach his books and he often brings one to us to read. We also use flashcards and have started using books for counting too. He can say ‘one’ and we follow with ‘two, three’. We always make it into an enjoyable game so as he gets older he feels comfortable reading alone and aloud with others.
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I spend most of my days talking to my children, they are always asking what things are or what they do. it is so so important to talk to them. My son loves to sit and read a book with me, and he will look at the pictures and make up his own stories too.
I have a very encouraging family who buy my children lots of books and also read to them. my eldest has his first full set of biff, chip and kip books he is only 3 but he really enjoys them. we end up reading 2 or 3 short stories.
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My son loves been read too, and I always talk to him, ask him questions, ask him to show me things etc but hes not a great speaker and he’s 2.
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i read to my son everyday, and have done since birth. But he isnt a very good talker compared to a lot of kids his age x
Rae my daughter isn’t a great talker either and my kids get at least one story each day without fail as it’s out bedtime routine. My son was brilliant tho.. only shows whatever you do they still develop at their own speed. I have to admit tho it might be that my daughter is not coping as well as my son with the whole bilingual thing xx
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I talk to my lo all the time people look at me strange in the street when i say look at the birdys alex arent they pretty
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My girls love me reading books to them and both have shelves full. x
I make sure i always read to mine, my 3 year old is going on 13 lol he is really inquisitive asks about anything and everything x
I read to my children. my Lg was too young but is now getting to the stage, she loves when i read her the kitten book or the baby book and i try to read to them as much as i can x
Dylan has a cupboard full of books, he will let me read for about 5/10 minutes, but then he will want to do something else x x
i love reading & always read with my children now they love reading it opens so many doors its wonderfull xx
me and coley read a book before bed every night, xx
lewis has just let me sit n read to him n we both love it we get one on one quailty time together plus it helps with his speach xx
adding to this now, we now read for 30mins a day, we snuggle on the sofa n thats r lil snuggle n us time were we sit n read n talk about the book
so glad hes finely go into me reading to him as i love it xx