Page 8 - Issue 65 Online

JUST

5 MINUTES

A DAY

eading to children is a magical
experience. Watching their imagination who are read to by a key adult male in their life
Rgrow, developing their vocabulary as are far less likely to fall behind? Now, that really
they talk about what is happening in the story is magic.
and sharing that closeness and bonding time Studies have shown that babies read to in the
with them as you read and yes, even reading the womb are more responsive to their mother’s
same book for the 100th time! Not only are you voice within days of birth. Long before you think
experiencing a very close time with your child they will be able, newborn babies will respond to
but you are developing their vocabulary, their black and white pictures and by a month will be
logical thinking, their understanding of the world starting to focus on their preferred shapes. For
and helping them to perform better in school. newborns, keep the sessions short and sweet

You can find magic wherever you look. but frequent to build good habits. As your baby
Sit back and relax, all you need is a book. grows, they will come to recognise these times
– Dr Seuss

Did you know reading daily to a five-year-old
means that child will be almost half a year
ahead in their reading compared to a child who
is read to less than once a week? Also, children
READING TO BABIES

• Read to your baby while pregnant
• Use black and white books in the early days
• Make sure you have your new-born book from
the Booktrust
• Keep sessions short to avoid overstimulation
• Keep the environment calm and peaceful with
the lights on low
• Establish a story as part of a bedtime routine

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