At what age did you child enjoy books?

[Southwestwhippet]

My DD has little to no interest in books or stories. She will tollerate turning the pages of her 'that's not my' books (she turns them so fast I can barely say the words) or very short spells of a touch and feel book but the idea of sitting down and looking at a book/talking about the pictures horrifies her and she just wriggles away if I try.

Basically she is a very active, busy 10month old and would far rather be zooming around annoying playing with the dog or trying to climb the stairs etc. But even before she could crawl, she would become irritable if I tried to read to her.

I'm not worried, she is a happy, vibrant baby but many of my friends' babies seem to love sitting with mum looking at books and I would enjoy doing the same with DD if she'd let me! When did you child/ren get into books?

[fel1x]

Both mine started having bed time stories when they moved out of cots and into beds (so it was easier to sit together on the bed and read) at about 20 months. This also coincided with about the time they were able to sit still long enough and want ti listen to a whole story.

Now they are 5 and nearly 3 and LOVE books. They are currently on chapter books (we read a chapter per night) plus all sorts of other library books in the day time

[AngelDog]

About 4/5 months, I think. But DS has always enjoyed sitting on our laps having a cuddle and looking at something and while he enjoys being active, he's not a 'non-stop' baby.

[Greeninkmama]

Hey, southwestwhippet, go with what your DD is telling you. Have books around, let her see you reading, maybe have books she can chew on but don't push the story thing if she is not interested. She's weeny!

[purplearmadillo]

My DD liked them from about that age, but my DS is more active and its taken him longer. He likes them now, at almost 3 but has never been obsessed in the way that DD was.

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

DS seemed to love books from as soon as he could focus on them, DD was the same as your DD at the same age, not really that interested. I did fret a bit at the time that I hadn't sat and read with her like I had with DS (poor 2nd child!).

I'm not sure where it changed, but they are now both really into their books (DD is nearly 2yrs). In fact I sometimes find them sitting together 'reading' a book, a rare moment of peace...

[strawberryshortbread]

my ds1 has only shown an interest in books from 3.5 onwards and loves them now, ds2 has shown an interest since 6 months old, he's 2 now and his main interest is books and nee nohs! every child is different, don't worry...

[wannabeglam]

Over a year.

[PrinceRogersNelson]

I started a thread similar to this not long ago, although my DD is significantly older than yours. Here

Since posting this she has just started to enjoy books. Sill very simple books; Dear Zoo etc, but she now brings books to me to read and will sit and listen.

She will get there. Leave books around and take it at her pace.

[Southwestwhippet]

Thanks everyone, really reassuring. I haven't been pushing it too much, we do some animal noises with Dear Zoo at bed time if she isn't too tired and I leave books around for her to play with. Thing is we are all avid readers in our family and my mum taught us all to read quite young (2 or 3 ish) and I was looking forward to doing the same with DD but I shall let her set the pace as I dont want to put her off.

Don't worry she gets LOTS of parental role modelling on the book reading front [ignored baby emoticon]

[Goingspare]

She's concentrating on enjoying her physical prowess at the moment. My DD1 wouldn't hang around long for anything at that age, though she had a little bedtime story after her bath and was winding down.

She is still very physical, at 13, does a lot of sport, then comes home and collapses with a book.

Parental role modelling - the best possible excuse for lax parenting, and one day you'll reap the reward when you are lolling in bed of a morning with your book and a couple of children creep in next to you with theirs.

[booyhohoho]

ds is 18 months and has, since, being able to sit up and look at you turing teh pages has loved books. he carries them round now and mutters to himself liek he is reading a story.

[Niecie]

Neither of my two were that interested before about 18 months. DS1 quickly became an avid book lover after that and I used to spend hours reading to him. DS2 less interested but still liked bedtime stories.

At 10 months neither of them were interested so I didn't bother much. I felt bad after reading that you are supposed to read to them from birth but I don't think it has made any difference - it is just a different type of talking with them when they are tiny and I used to talk to them all the time.

[lindy100]

My DD seems to like them a lot - I have loads and loads ofbooks in the house, as related to my job, so I've pushed it a lot.

Since about 9-10 months, we introduced a Gruffalo-style book to bedtime, and since she is tired and milky at that time, she always sits and listens (unless she is so tired she begs to go in her cot ).

She often brings me a book in the daytime and climbs into my lap to hear it (she's now 1.4) - I think she associated books wtih cuddles, which is nice.

Having said that, she often turns pages super-quick too!

Have you tried books that have sound buttons too? Might hold her attention in a different way.

[lindy100]

Terrible spelling mistakes sorry - it's too late/early!