As I’ve been through Reading 1000 Books before Kindergarten with my two oldest kids, I’ve realized that there are various “stages” of reading with children, especially reading with my babies. I started reading with my babies from their infancy, and my third child is nearly two. My thoughts on baby-reading stages are based on my personal observations of three different babies in a house that is full of book-lovers. It’s not scientific. Still, it’s a reminder that it is never to young to start reading with a baby!
When my son was a baby, I visited the library for myself mainly. On one particular day, when he was about six months old, I handed him a baby board book to hold as he sat in the stroller so he had something to hold while I searched for my book of choice. Imagine my surprise when an older lady commented, “Don’t you think he’s a bit too young?”
I’ve thought about that many times in the past 9 years. No, ma’am, I don’t think my son was too young for a book! Was he maybe too young to treat it with gentle reverence? Probably. But babies are never to young for books.
Now that my daughter is showing interest and ability in sounding out words and recognizing the print around her, it’s time I read up on it too and find the activities that will be a perfect match for her personality. If you are starting out or teaching a child (or children) who is likewise learning to read, you may find this ultimate guide to early reading resources and activities useful.
Apparently, searching for eggs never gets old. My nine-year-old son Raisin and my five-year-old preschool Strawberry both loved search for eggs in our home and our yard, time and time again, on Easter. I told Strawberry that I’d hide eggs for her yet again today if she would read the words found inside each one! I choose words that she could read with a little sounding out help, and she loved acting them out in our early reading egg hunt this morning!
