Reading books and telling stories with my baby
Reading books and telling stories is a wonderful way to spend time with your baby. As you cuddle your child and look at a picture book, tell a traditional story, sing a song, or recite a rhyme, your child will feel comforted, secure and loved. Hearing your voice, feeling your touch, and smelling your skin add to the experience. Board books are a great choice early on when your baby likes to put everything in their mouth.
Reading and storytelling develop your child’s language skills and prepare them for school. The stories and books you share in the early years shape their understanding of the world, their sense of humour, their compassion, and their interests. Sharing your own traditional stories, songs and poems in your home language helps them understand your culture and family values.
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- When my baby holds a book, turns the pages, and hears me talk about the pictures,
- My baby is getting to know books through the senses of sight, hearing, and touch.
- My baby is starting to get a feel for reading.
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- My baby enjoys reading a book with me.
- When I read aloud and talk about the pictures, my baby learns words.
- Sitting on my lap and feeling my warmth helps my baby develop an appreciation for books and stories.
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- My toddler is starting to focus more on books.
- When I connect what we read to other experiences,
- I am showing my toddler that books are a great way to understand the world.
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- When my child and I read a book together,
- I ask questions and encourage my child to talk about the things in the book.
- I sometimes bring up concepts like colours and counting, always keeping it fun.
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