Together · 5 min
A book before they can read
Look at a simple picture book with your baby for a few minutes, pointing, naming and enjoying it together.
Reading with a baby is less about the words and more about sitting close, looking at something together and hearing your voice. A few minutes with a simple book is a calm, shared moment in a busy day.
The steps
Four small steps,in your own time.
Choose a sturdy picture book with big, clear pictures. Libraries often lend them for free.
Sit with your baby where you are both comfortable and they can see the pages.
Point to the pictures and name them, make the sounds, and let your baby touch or chew the book if it is made for that.
Stop when they lose interest, and try again another time. A minute or two is enough.
The reason
Why it helps
Sharing a book gives your baby your voice, your attention and something to look at together. It can become a calm part of the day, at bedtime or after a feed. Many children who grow up with books around them come to enjoy them.
A gentle variation
You do not need to read the words; making up your own story about the pictures works just as well. If you or someone in the family reads in another language, share books in that language too.
WE · TRIBE
Try itwith someone.
Ask a grandparent, an older child or a friend to read to the baby when they visit, and leave a book where it is easy to reach.
Try it today
Today, look at one picture book with your baby for a couple of minutes.
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