My son doesnt enjoy story time

[Fifi2406]

He is nearly 2, he hardly sits still, is always always hyper from the minute he wakes up to the minute he goes to sleep and his attention span is that of a fish if I try and read to him he just tries to shut the book and escape or he turns the page before I've finished the first word over and over, he likes to look at books and if he is doing that by himself he will sit for about 3 to 4 mins but the second I get involved and actually read anything that's it he is off! I am desperate to do story time and I don't want him to never like books and never read! Anyone got any advise?

Sorry if I waffle I'm sleepy!

[thisisyesterday]

no advice, just wanted to say it's normal! some kids LOVE being read to from an early age, others want to figure it all out for themselves and are more focussed on "doing stuff" instead :-D

i have one who adored books and would sit for hours being read to, my other 2 were like your son and much preferred to run about instead

they're 5 and 4 now and both really love books and will sit happily for stories

[Fifi2406]

Oh that's good to know! Don't want him to miss out

Thank you

[Pizzahutlover]

yes dont worry its normal my son was the same at that age but now loves books at 4

[bebanjo]

Have you tried story without the book, maybe with some toys?
the library some times have story bags. I used to tell dd story's from memory or just make them up.
Good luck.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

I don't do books because I don't like them, so instead I make up a story, usually about my children with a rough outline of the day with a sprinkle of fantasy thrown in.

[tricot39]

Another one here with a DS who wouldnt sit still up to about 3 and now I struggle to get the same little boy to get his nose out of a book. When he was young we went through the charade of storytime by letting him flick through simple books or getting ones with robust flaps like Dear Zoo or Busy Little Harbour that he seemed slightly more interested in. All i can say is enjoy the light story duties as soon you will be limiting the number of books or stuck there for hours!

[lljkk]

I had several that didn't enjoy stories at that age, either. All turned into bookworms so far. Don't sweat it. Interactive books with things to pull/lift/stroke are good for holding their attenion.

[Fifi2406]

Thanks everyone

[tricot39]

ooh yes forgot to say that after a mumsnet tip I bought The Baby Who Wouldn't Go To Bed and that was probably one of the first books that caught his interest/slowed the flicking!

[Inclusionist]

Maybe try photo books? We had photo books (I think by Bright Baby) that DS would pour over. You can introduce loads of vocab and info (oh, a black and white cow, cows give us milk you know? etc).

Also, books with and exciting element. At thet age DS loved 'Barry the Fish With Fingers' because in the middle of the book there is a big TICKLE!! He would listen to the story anticipating an exciting thing to come.

[Fairdene]

You say that you are desperate. Your DS is clearly not. Don't push books atm is my advice or you'll risk turning him off. I never read to mine before they were two. In fact I can't remember reading much with them at all except for their Biff and Chip type school books, life was too busy. But I did buy them quite a few books to diddle through on their own and our 'library' of toddler to teen fiction is pretty good (several hundred books). It sounds as though your DS might prefer that independent approach. All of my DC are very literate/ literary now so it's clearly worked out.