These questions reveal that parents want to make the best choices for their children but need guidance. She describes the developmental characteristics of infants, toddlers and preschoolers and gives parents some hints on how these characteristics determine what reading and language experiences are appropriate for each age. I hope the lists below will help parents determine the best book, song or rhyme for their child. Birth to 18 months Infants and older babies are very sensitive to sound. They respond to words, rhymes and songs and will eventually try to mimic what they hear.
Older babies love to hear songs and rhymes repeated over and over again.
While many adults do not feel that it is important to read to infants, the latest research shows that infancy is a crucial time for language development. Below are some suggestions for choosing books and other language activities for your infant or baby. Board books, especially those that have interesting textures. Books with striking, high-contrast patterns. Books with familiar objects, with one item on a page so that your child can point and name each object.