A love for reading is in my DNA. As the daughter of a retired elementary school teacher and an author, books have always been a part of my life, and some of my favorite childhood memories are of reading books aloud with my parents before bed. One book series that was my go-to for nightly readings was Carole Marsh’s Real Kids – Real Places mysteries. My mom would let me pick out books from School Box, and my first purchase from the Real Kids – Real Places series was The Mystery of Biltmore House. From the first page, I was hooked, and I have loved a good mystery and thriller ever since!
Now, as an adult working at the publishing company of one of my favorite children’s series and meeting its founder, CEO, and in-house author, Carole Marsh, it feels like a full-circle moment. When I announced to my coworkers that I was pregnant with twins, I was surprised with a gift of Marsh’s children's books to enjoy with my babies: “Hello in There!”: Poetry to read to the Unborn Baby, Nine Months in My Mommy: Autobiography of an Unborn Baby, and A Little Potty Never Hurt Nobody!
My babies are now five months old, and I’m excited to read these books to my sons and instill in them a love of literature, just like my parents did with me! However, like many parents of little ones, finding time in my and my husband’s busy schedules can feel overwhelming, as does knowing what to read and at what age to start reading to our babies.
If you feel the same way, know that you’re not alone! Here are some ideas to help you jumpstart your child’s (or children’s) love of reading and why now is the perfect time to start reading to your baby.
Books are the building blocks of language development
Cooing from your baby is enough to melt your heart and make you whip out your phone to record those sweet sounds, but your baby’s (or babies’) babbling is more than just cute—it’s a milestone in their language development! Babies communicate by making vowel sounds, like ah-ah-ah. Their gurgles are also important as they learn to make their voice box vibrate. Mimicking these sounds and talking back to your baby are great ways to encourage this language development, and so is reading to your baby.[1]
Researchers at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine found that reading daily to babies under 12 months increased infants’ language scores.[2] In this study, parents in Group A were asked to read to their babies, but no specific instructions on reading frequency were given to them. Meanwhile, parents in Group B were asked to read daily. The results were that children who were read to at least seven times a week had “higher expressive, receptive and combined language scores at nine months than sometimes reading fewer than seven books per week.”[3]
Another study found that by the time children are four years old, kids who were read to as babies have better vocabularies and reading skills, according to a report published by Psychology Today. This results from the baby’s exposure to different words and the rhythm words' sounds when read aloud. Hearing a wide range of words consistently also results in higher test scores by the time a child reaches third grade.[4]
Reading aloud creates an emotional connection between you and your baby
Developing a strong bond between you and your child is fundamental to your baby’s emotional well-being—not to mention yours! Having a moment to slow down during a hectic day and unwind with your baby is beneficial for both of you. Research backs it up! The American Academy of Pediatrics says that reading together “stimulates optimal patterns of brain development and strengthens parent-child relationships at a critical time in child development, which, in turn, builds language, literacy, and social-emotional skills that last a lifetime.”[5]
The physical component of reading together is equally important. Snuggling with your baby on your lap or in your arms while you read provides your baby with comfort and security. This secure attachment goes a long way as they grow and get older. Having a strong emotional connection to their parents or caregivers helps kids learn to regulate their feelings and have healthy relationships with others.[6]
Finding resources is as easy as ABC!
Information overload can bog you down as you scroll through parenting TikToks and blogs while looking for the best books to read to your baby. Thankfully, there are tried-and-true resources that can assist you in your search!
Marsh’s “Read Early, Read Often, Read Forever” is a free guide for parents of kids from pre-born to preschool. With ideas on age-appropriate reading activities to engage your kid(s), there’s something for everyone! For newborns, Marsh suggests that parents try out simple books.
“These have few words, short words, and repeat words,” Marsh says. “They are like reading blocks—they will get more and more familiar with the same sounds. And, now that baby can hear more clearly, words will sound more specific.”
Marsh recommends these books to read to your baby:
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
The Story of Babar by Jean de Brunhoff
Another fantastic resource is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides free books to newborns and children up to age five. However, you must live in an eligible state to qualify for this free program. To check your eligibility, click here!
Even if your state doesn’t qualify for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, you can still check out books from your local library. Not sure which books to look for? The children’s librarian will happily recommend some books and point you in the right direction! Libraries also have storytime hours for babies and their parents. Check your library’s website or social media channels to see their schedule.
Establish a stress-free storytelling and reading routine
As a fellow parent, I understand how stressful parenting can sometimes feel, and adding storytime into the mix of a long and busy day can sometimes feel overwhelming. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be! There are no hard and fast rules for reading to your baby. For starters, you don’t even have to read a children’s book. Instead, you can read whatever you have on hand. Marsh suggests reading the Bible, mail, emails, text messages, and recipes you’re cooking.
“Baby won’t care what you read!” Marsh adds. “But [your] baby will love the sound of your voice reading words aloud.”
Storytime also counts towards shaping your baby’s language development![7] Whether it’s a fairytale or folktale you remember from childhood or a story you make up on the spot, have fun telling it to your baby. For even more entertainment, you can also try using different voices for each character and exaggerated expressions while you tell the story. Acting in front of a cooing baby may feel silly, but lean into the silliness and have fun!
Another essential thing to remember is that reading and storytelling can happen anywhere and anytime. Here are some ideas of ways you can incorporate reading and storytime into daily activities:
Pack a children’s book in your diaper bag before checkup appointments at the pediatrician’s office, and read it to your baby while you sit in the waiting room.
Tell a story while you bathe your baby. When your baby becomes a toddler, you can even use bath books. These soft, waterproof books are durable enough to withstand your toddler’s bathtime splashes.
Tell a story while you play with your baby, take them for a walk, or feed them.
Make reading time a family affair! If you have older kids, invite them to practice their reading skills by reading out loud to their sibling(s).
Most importantly, remember to have fun!
Reading with my babies has been a fantastic way for us to bond while also allowing me to reread some cherished classics from my childhood and discover new favorites! I hope you and your little ones can enjoy reading together, too. But remember—it’s okay if the day is too hectic to squeeze in a reading session. Life—and babies—throw curveballs, and sometimes, you can’t dodge them all and aren’t able to do all of the things you planned to do that day. Give yourself grace and remember that reading to your baby is about quality time together, not quantity.
As a grandmother of six grandchildren and a soon-to-be great-grandmother, Marsh offers some tried-and-true advice for parents: “If you need a break from reading to baby, that’s OK! Let’s not overwhelm you or baby!”
Happy reading!
Sources
[1] Kumar, Karthik, MBBS. “What Is Cooing for a Baby?” MedicineNet, 12 August 2022, https://www.medicinenet.com/what_is_cooing_for_a_baby/article.htm. Accessed 31 July 2024.
[2] Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. "Daily, consistent parental reading in the first year of life improves infants' language scores." ScienceDaily, 14 February 2023, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230214153903.htm. Accessed 22 May 2024.
[3] Franks, Adam M., Seaman, Callie, Franks, Emily K., Rollyson, William, and Davies, Todd. “Parental Reading to Infants Improves Language Score: A Rural Family Medicine Intervention.” The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 2022; 35 (6): 1156 DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2022.220064R2
[4] Denworth, Lydia. “The Magic of Reading Aloud to Babies.” Psychology Today, 5 May 2017, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-waves/201705/the-magic-reading-aloud-babies. Accessed 23 May 2024.
[5] High, Pamela C., MD, FAAP and Klass, Perri, MD, FAAP. “Literacy Promotion: An Essential Component of Primary Care Pediatric Practice.” The American Academy of Pediatrics, 1 August 2014, https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-1384. Accessed 23 May 2024.
[6] “Bonding With Your Newborn Through Reading Books.” World Literacy Foundation, https://worldliteracyfoundation.org/bonding-with-your-newborn-through-reading-books/. Accessed 1 August 2024.
[7] “Reading and storytelling with babies and children.” Raising Children Network (Australia), https://raisingchildren.net.au/babies/play-learning/literacy-reading-stories/reading-storytelling. Accessed 1 August 2024.
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