There is no doubt reading is important at every age. In my practice, I encourage parents to read to their newborns and continue the tradition for as many years as possible.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has reported a link to brain development and parent-child reading prior to Kindergarten. Children who are read to, seem to show stronger parent-child relationships. (I know many of you are thinking , “how much stronger can it get?” , as you struggle to get an ounce of privacy!). They also seem to do better academically.
Now with that being said, you’re a busy parent. You have to feed, bathe and entertain these children and you have to run a household. You’re already doing a lot. You may also have to work or have other responsibilities. So remember that reading shouldn’t be an added stressor or chore. You’re not a bad parent if you forget to do it. But if you have some time on your hands, try to keep this in mind because your kids will reap the benefits.
Here are a list of books I frequently recommend to parents, based on age. Remember to purchase hard books until your kids are out of the tear-paging phase of their development.
(Disclosure: there may be affiliate links in this post which means if you click on them, you may accidentally make me rich because I may make a small commission if you buy the product. This has yet to actually happen, but I like to warn people of the risks and benefits in every situation. Also, I don’t actually know how to use computers so none of the links may actually work).
(Second, this blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. It represents my opinion but doesn’t replace actual medical advice. I share information with you that I feel would be helpful to any parent, but it shouldn’t replace a visit with your doctor because they know you, your medical history and your child best).
NEWBORNS AND BABIES:
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TODDLERS (Pointing picture books optimal here):
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4-6 YEARS OF AGE:
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7-10 YEARS OF AGE:
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But what about APPS and Flash cards?
There’s definitely a place and time for both. Try to limit screen time as much as possible (the more imaginative play kids can learn to do, the better it is for their brain development). One of the apps I do approve of, (and I tell my patients about it all the time), is Reading Eggs. Obviously this is a pricey app and not necessary whatsoever for any child. However, kids love it, and it teaches reading in a very intuitive way. Many school curriculums use Reading Eggs. I would recommend it as of 3 or 3.5 years of age.
As far as flashcards are concerned, I find it a perfect activity for dinner time with a 9 month old. While you’re feeding your baby, grab 5 flash cards and review them quickly. If you have time several minutes later, do them again. Encourage your baby to say the words and give them lots of praise if they even attempt it. Switch out the cards every few days.
My next blog post will be about developmental Milestones so stay tuned!
