Books For Young Children - Teach Your Children to Love Reading

Children love to learn new things. While an adult mayof the pages so the young reader can experience a
make a distinction between learning and playing, torange of "feels".
the young child, the experience is the same; playing isUp to about the age of two, while children need to
learning and learning is fun. From their earliest days,see an object in front of them or have just seen it
children have an inbuilt drive to find and master newto think about it, they can relate cause and effect.
experiences. Think how many times a toddler picksMost of us will have seen how quickly young children
himself up and tries again when learning to walk.learn that pressing the buttons will make a noise!
Imagine what we as adults could achieve if we couldFrom the ages of 2 - 6, children begin to talk and
maintain the determination and joy of learning wethink about objects that are not present and they
experienced when we were very young!are full of questions. They want to know everything!
Most parents understand without being told that howMake-believe and nonsense stories are also popular
they care for and relate to their children is of criticalwith this age group. A good example of nonsense
importance for optimal social, emotional and cognitivestories is the Dr Seuss books, which are still popular
development of their child (Maccoby & Martin50 years on. To children from about 2 to 6, their
1982) and so they want to expose their children toview of the world is that all events revolve around
the best books for young children that they can find.them so they like stories where they can imagine
The question may be how early to introduce booksthemselves in the role of the hero or heroine.
to their baby or toddler and also what type of bookWhen you choose books for young children with
is best. It pays to take into account that very younggreat titles like "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's
children experience life through experimenting and willEars (by Verna Aardema) or "The Very Hungry
be just as likely to put a book into their mouth as toCaterpillar" by Eric Carle, they can easily they can
look at the pictures! As the parent, you need to leteasily imagine that mosquito buzzing in their ear or
them explore this way, so buying books that arevisualize an ordinary caterpillar in a new light. Having a
rugged and will stand up to rough treatment aregreat imagination is very normal for children; our task
advised, both to lengthen the life of the books andas adults is not to stifle it with our own limitations.
to prevent any parts being ripped or chewed off andAs important as the choice of book is, even more
swallowed!important is to develop the habit of reading with
Colorful board books, cloth and vinyl books areyour child. Try to have a regular time every day;
popular choices. Very simple board books have thickbefore bed is the most common time, but some
cardboard pages with bright colors to attract theparents find early mornings or mid-afternoon suits
infant's eyes. They are sturdy enough that a chewtheir lifestyle better. Whatever time you decide,
or two will not harm your child or damage the bookmake a pattern and stick with it as often as you can.
too much!Let your children choose the story if they want to;
More complex board and soft page bookslet them turn the pages and read along with you or
incorporate features such as pressing buttons foreven to pretend to read to you, because
sounds of animals or mechanical sounds such asparticipating in this way will instill a love of reading.
hooters, sirens or musical instruments and maybeThere is no greater gift you can give your children
pop-ups or lift up flaps with something hiddenthan to read them the best children's books. Start
underneath.when they are babies with special books for young
Touch books for children are also popular. Thesechildren.
books incorporate different textures into the surface