Reading to a baby? Why not? After all, you probably got Pat the Bunny and some Beatrix Potter stories as baby shower gifts, and for good reason: it is never too early to read to your baby, even if he can’t follow the plot of Goodnight Moon. Whether your baby can grasp the finer points of literature is irrelevant: he will certainly benefit from this precious gift of parent-baby bonding time. The benefits of early reading are tremendous.

Hard Wired for Language

Babies love to hear voices, and whose voice is better than his parents’? Babies are hard-wired for language, and therefore for communication, so the more sounds we can introduce to them, the better. Babies have a “map” of language. Sounds that are imprinted on that map very early will be more familiar than those he hears later, so reading helps with language acquisition and use as your baby begins talking.

Bonding Time

Reading offers a different sort of bonding than does any other aspect of parenting. Establishing a reading ritual early in your child’s life can establish a pre-nap or pre-bedtime routine of relaxation for you both. You may enjoy revisiting favorite stories from your childhood and establishing a routine that will last well into childhood. The more fond memories of reading your child has, the more likely he is to become a lifelong reader.

Make Time for Reading

It doesn’t take much time or planning to get your baby started making connections between print and sound. Your baby’s attention span is short, so read when you can and then let him move onto other things. Just a few minutes a day is enough to establish a foundation for literacy.

What to Read

Choose sturdy, bright, simple books. Babies love faces and bold, contrasting designs, so look for those in simple board books that can withstand being chewed on and pulled on. Lift-the-flap or pop-up books can be frustrating as your baby gets older and wants to explore books by tugging and turning the pages.

Used bookstores, libraries, yard sales, and consignment shops are great places to find baby books on the cheap. Keep a book in the car, in the diaper bag, stashed around your house – anywhere you might want to work in a few minutes of reading time as you wait in line or have a few minutes of down time.

Simply reading a few minutes a day can create a lifelong reader and learner. Start as early as you can, and keep it simple and fun, and you will establish a foundation for reading that will be invaluable to your little one.

 Read about establishing reading in early childhood here: http://hubpages.com/hub/SimpleStepsToAReadigFriendlyHome