Reading to your toddler can be funny, soothing and tricky, This is a rapid time for growth and development and their new found independence can lead to a change in your reading style.

Reading to your Toddler 12 to 18 months:

At this stage your little one may be keen to select the books they want to read. Reading the same book repeatedly isn’t the most fun thing for you but their familiarity with the book can be really useful when teaching the names of objects. They may be able to point to objects in the book when you name them.

Reading to your toddler 18 to 24 months:

Many toddlers will begin to play imaginatively at this age. You may even find your toddler “reading” to their toys. As your toddler begins to follow simple instructions you can ask them to ‘choose a book’ and ‘turn the page’ to engage them more in the activity. Point to objects in the books and ask your toddler ‘What’s this?’. Give them time to answer and practice the words.

Reading to your toddler 2 to 3 years:

Be prepared- reading to your toddler at this stage can get repetitive. It is great to see them pick their favourite stories or characters but you may be reciting those stories in your sleep after a while! Try to find new questions to ask about the book such as colours, body parts and objects. If your toddler is familiar with a rhyme in a book, try getting it wrong, or missing a word and let them help correct you.