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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

When did you start reading to your children?

23 replies

littleduck · 29/05/2010 21:03

Almost impossible to read to my DD as she just grabs the book or the pages so you can't turn over or she turns back so you can't go on with the story. I would like to read to her but end up singing to her instead - poor child!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

southeastastra · 29/05/2010 21:06

you have to memorise them then

cyteen · 29/05/2010 21:07

How old is she? DS was like that as a baby, but started to take more of an interest when he was about 13mo. Now he's 21mo and loves to be read to. In fact, he's quite particular about which books he wants to hear and regularly demands a lap to sit in while we read his choice.

Singing is always good too. Actually DS is less interested in bedtime songs atm and won't entertain them without tantrums

2cats2many · 29/05/2010 21:07

Since they were babies, but DD didn't sit and listen until she was about 14 months and DS has only just started (19 months). Favourite early books for both of them included 'Dear Zoo' and 'Oh Dear!'.

I also think it important to have books available so they can 'play' at reading books as well IYSWIM.

Persevere- you'll crack her!

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 29/05/2010 21:07

You have to redefine your understanding of what 'reading' is. 'reading' to a child is sharing a book with you, if that's reading the page she's currently on while she holds it upside down, then that's fine. You only want her to start enjoying books. eventually she'll enjoy hearing the same stories over and over and you'll find you get through a whole book without her grabbing it off you.

lovechoc · 29/05/2010 21:10

from 4 months - just made it part of the bedtime routine and it's stuck since.

cockatrice · 29/05/2010 21:15

In the womb, them, not me, obviously.

ShowOfHands · 29/05/2010 21:16

At the moment of conception.

LadyintheRadiator · 29/05/2010 21:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pitterpatterfeet · 29/05/2010 21:19

Since they left the womb and I would say they started really enjoying books from about 4 months

cockatrice · 29/05/2010 21:21

Agree it is just about sharing the book though, 'look at the duck' 'where is the tree' etc.

Ds would sit wide eyed and like a statue for any story from about 8months plus.

Dd at about 18months would just try and rip the pages out and eat them

FannyPriceless · 29/05/2010 21:27

Right from the start. She's 21 mths now and is crazy over books. That said, I still don't think she has much idea what the story lines actually are. It's more about the fun of turning the pages, making the noises that go with a certin picture, the drama and excitement, and the rythym of certain books seems to really appeal to her too.

Don't be too fussed about 'proper' reading. Just make it fun and exciting and she'll soon start picking up books and pretending to read, or bringing them to you to read with her.

Wolfcub · 29/05/2010 21:29

from the word go really, even if it was just the book I was reading for myself. DS is 3 and a half now and has memorised a lot of his favourites so you can't risk getting a word wrong or a correction will follow.

Original poster

littleduck · 29/05/2010 21:30

Oh she has books and loves to play with them. Turning over pages is a big favourite thing to do, has been for ages. I do sit with her and talk about what's on the page but don't actually manage to read much (unless it's one of those 'That's not my xxxxx' books in which case there isn't much to read on the pages anyway!). I think they are just another kind of toy to her, but she does seem to like them. Anything with a page you can turn!

OP posts:

Original poster

littleduck · 29/05/2010 21:32

She is 13 months btw. I tried starting to read to her when she was much smaller but couldn't keep hold of the book long enough!

OP posts:

meandjoe · 29/05/2010 21:35

I started readng to him in te womb but he went through the annoying grabbing the book, turning the pages phase, I gave him a pile of books to flich through/ chew on etc whilst I read to him, sometimes this worked. Also I found reading to him in the bath worked, meant that he could play if he wanted to but couldn't get to the book so he usually sat nicely and just looked at the pictures with me. It did pass. Ds loves books now he's a bit older.

SacharissaCripslock · 29/05/2010 21:37

My DS1 wouldn't sit still for a story (not even at bedtime) until he was about 3 but my DS3 (who is now 2.6) loved being read to from very early on and now demands to be read to all the time.

Keep enjoying what you are doing even if it doesn't feel like proper reading. At 13 months they are just as likely to enjoy eating the book as listening to a story!

gagarin · 29/05/2010 23:15

Talking about what is on the page IS reading to her. Even if there are no words.

It sounds as though what you really want to know is when did my dd start to LISTEN and follow a story in a linear "and then this happended and then this happened"-way?

That wasn't until about 2-2.5yrs. before then it was signing/rhymes/point to the duck/lift the flap and giggle books. Still enjoying books greatly but not actually following a story.

And moving on to what we called "chapter books" was another big step even later. Probably around 5?

Latootle · 29/05/2010 23:17

give her her own book and pretend yours is the same or just read from yours anyway, or make sure she is in bed out of reach. for the moment.

blueshoes · 30/05/2010 00:19

My dd was not interested in my reading books to her for a long time. Only after she started school did she take an interest. Now she MUST have a bedtime story.

Ds was interested in bedtime stories at about 3. Now he MUST have his own story, which is different from dd's.

I would take the lead from the child tbh.

cat64 · 30/05/2010 00:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Rollmops · 30/05/2010 10:49

We started reading to DTs regularly when they turned 3 months old
Now, at ripe old age of 2.5, they are real true book wormlettes, apart from time in the the garden where they race around, climb on everything and jump from anything , they spend their time 'reading' as have memorised gazillion books; or having me or DH read to them.

Goblinchild · 30/05/2010 11:03

I used to read out loud to mine when I was pregnant, in the same way that I sang to them.
Slowly, their taste in literature took over, so I went from Donne and Pratchett to Dear Zoo and Dr Seuss.
I still have many favourites memorised, I could lie in the dark and 'tell' the story with my eyes shut to a small child turning the pages, sometimes with the book upside down.

winnybella · 30/05/2010 11:10

I don't remember with ds, but dd is now 16 months and I can only read a couple of pages to her before she comes back to the first page or whatever. She loves looking at books, though, so for now it's more of 'where's the butterfly?' and making animal noises etc.

I'm not worried, though, as I read lots and ds picked it up, so to speak, and taught himself to read at 3 and is an avid reader now.

Go with the flow.

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