How to Read to your Baby: 7 Simple Techniques
Tags: Simple, Baby, Children, Childrens Books, Parenting

BY THABITHA DAVID · PUBLISHED JULY 2, 2020 · UPDATED SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

Reading a fun activity

Read to a baby: As a new parent, reading to our babies is an art in itself. It is an art because we need to find the right book to read and choose the best time of the day to read. We need to make it interesting to the baby.

“When I say to a parent, “read to a child”, I don’t want it to sound

like medicine. I want it to sound like chocolate. ” — Mem Fox

The benefits of reading have been spoken about, time and again!

Though you may feel the importance of reading …

How do I read?….That’s a big question isn’t it?

You might even feel very awkward to read to a newborn. We don’t even know if they understand anything we are saying. Sometimes it even feels like a waste of time.

But here is the plain and simple truth…

Whether your baby understands the story or not is immaterial. What is important at this stage is that your baby enjoys being close to you, hearing your voice and feeling your touch and warmth.

So as a new parent all these questions and doubts are normal to feel. I felt the same with my little one.

Though I knew the importance of reading, to my baby I was

unsure of how to read to my baby.

So, I thought it is important to write this blog. To share with you all my journey.

My journey on how I overcame the awkwardness and started reading to my little boy.

I have listed out few things that I found helpful when I started reading to him.

(Yes, its all tried and tested!)

TOPICS

When to start reading to your baby

Most of us parents know that books are the best gifts we can give our children. It opens their mind to a whole new world.

There’s a saying that goes “old habits die hard”. It’s the same with books. Therefore, it’s best to introduce books to your child when he is a baby.

It’s never too early to start reading to your child. You can start reading from when the child is born. It makes it part of their routine.

But, Don’t worry if you’re starting late. It’s always better late than never!

The real challenge in reading to your baby

Now, as the baby grows the real challenge lies in sustaining the habit. We need to make reading as interesting and happy as possible to the baby.

As they grow the amount of time they are asleep reduces and their wake time increases. Babies also become more active and have a lot of energy.

The solution to reading to your baby

Not to worry, babies around 3+ months start to explore their

surroundings.

They are fascinated with loud noises, movements of objects and objects which are of bright or highly contrasting colours.

I vividly remember my 3 month old son, he’d just turn towards the backrest of our bright orange sofa and lie down staring at it for what seems to me as eternity…

Now you might be wondering, How is this connected to books?

Well the point I was trying to make is simple… just the way the color orange which is bright had caught my son’s fancy.

The same way, babies love to look at books with bright coloured pictures or high contrast colored pictures. It sustains their interest.

Therefore, it is very important that we choose the right books. And you will be pleasantly surprised as to how much your child will enjoy reading!

HOW TO READ TO A BABY

As mentioned above, how to read to my baby was a million dollar

question. I had the needed books. Yet it felt alien to me at first..

But in time using the techniques listed below with trial and error I was able to successfully over come it. And now we have a wonderful bonding time during reading.

Techniques I have tried and tested…

Snuggle with your baby while reading

Keep your baby close to you, on your lap as you read with them. Babies enjoy the touch and warmth.

Cuddle them, laugh, read aloud, whisper into their ear, hug and kiss as you read.

Reading time is also bonding time. Play with your baby as you read. Rock them and even sing as you read to them.

Your voice, your tone, your pitch all of it is observed and

consumed by your baby while you are concentrating on reading a story.

Get rid of distractions when you read to your baby

Babies get distracted very easily. Make sure that there is no

distraction when you read to your baby.

● It is wise to switch off the television or move to a room

without the television. Children are attracted to the high

colour contrast images and moving objects on television

and in general. While your baby is still very young to form a screen additions. Yet it is wise for you as parent to know about the screen addiction that most of the kids these days are falling pray to. Read our article SCREEN ADDICTION IN KIDS — All you need to know with Tips to know more.

● Put your phone on silent mode. Try not to use your phone

while reading to your baby.

● Choose a place that is not noisy. A place where you can

comfortably sit with your baby and read.

● Remove other toys so that your child is not distracted by

them. This way your child can focus easily on the book.

● Make sure the baby is not hungry or sleepy when you start

reading. It is ok for the baby to doze off to sleep while reading. Young babies are asleep longer than they are awake.

TIP: Don’t worry if your child seems a little distracted. They still hear and absorb whatever you speak!

Modulate your voice as you read

A baby’s hearing is very sensitive. Therefore, use a lot of voice modulations when you read to the baby.

Do not use a monotonous, boring tone without expressions.

Use a lot of exclamations like “oooh”, “oh” “ah” and ” yes” when you read.

This will help sustain the attention of your child. Make all

sentences exclamatory. For example, ’The caaaaaatttt, is drinking millllllkkk!!!!!’

TIP: Notice how your child reacts when you modulate your voiceor use different facial expressions when you play with your child. It’s the same while reading too!