21 month old not interested in books

[lyssie29]

Hi my dd is 21 months and every time I tey to ready to her she turns away or tried to take the book. How can I get her interested? She doesn't really say any words yet and I was wondering if it would help if I read more to her but shes not having it. Any tips?

No tips but I didn't read to my eldest until he was about 3 as he would do the same as your dc but he's older now and is a competent reader and enjoys reading in his free time

She's too young to be interested.

Give her time!

Let her have the book if she want to (assuming one that won't tear) and just try pointing out pictures on the page?

I'd let her have the books. They're still quite tactile at that age and just want to touch things so she'll get more engaged in books if she can 'play' with them.

I also found that it helped if I just persevered even if my DD wandered off or I lost her attention. I figured she was still absorbing the words, and eventually she'd wander back?

What kind of books are you reading her? I can recommend some of our faves if that would help?

I think you're doing exactly the right thing to help with her speech. I don't agree with PPs who say she's too young for it.

Do you use your local library? It's a great way to kill an hour on a wet day and maybe she'd be more interested there without other toys/distractions?

Thanks everyone I'll just persevere then and keep reading. We have the board books so it doesn't matter if she gets them.

@Timefor2 yes we go to the library at least once a week but she just runs around and plays. Sometimes She gets the books off the shelf and puts them on a table out that's it. I read to her older sister but she is just not interested she just wants to run around.

I read to my dd ( 2 and a half) when it's winding down to bed time she's tired and less likely to run off. I bought all the favourite books on board books so she could hold them without tearing and created a space in her room dedicated to reading with a chair that was comfortable for me and her books displayed so she knew what the space was for and why she was there. Now I let her pick out her own books in book shops and library. She's getting very good now for sitting and listening to a story but often asks for the same one every night so we read that and one new one to her. It has become a lovely end to the day routine now.

Have you tried just sitting down and reading a story aloud (as if reading to yourself) whilst she's playing nearby? She might come over and take an interest or she might just listen which is still beneficial for her language development. But if she's not interested straight away, I'd try and do it every day for at least a week or so before dismissing it if you can!

You could also try books which have a version which come with puppets? (Normally fairytales like the 3 little pigs, Cinderella etc)

Nooo don't listen to the pp who said she's too young. They're never too young for books. I've read to my ds from the day he came home from hospital, we love books.
However, maybe what was meant is that 21 months is young to sit and listen to a story all the way through?
I wouldn't worry about reading a story from beginning to end. If she take the book let her look at it then carry on, if she wanders off carry on reading, making it sound exciting so she wanders back to see what you're on about. Also, make it a part of your routine. If stories always happen before bed or after lunch then she will come to expect them and enjoy the familiarity.

No such thing as too young! But she might not sit through a proper story just yet.
What's she like with interactive board books e.g. Touchy feely ones?
It's still really good that she is around books a lot and sees you and her sister reading.

She sounds very physical, maybe just let it go and chat to her about what she's doing/looking at instead of reading for now. Let her have some books to explore if/when she's interested.

My oldest was like that but i used to just carry on reading lol. He got to love books though. My youngest is 20 months and he makes me read him loads of books, just brings a book over and plonks himself on my lap lol. They are all different. Have you tried the picture ones which just have one word on each page with a picture of what it is?(ball, shoe, cat etc) my son loves those and i show him the real objects too, it helps him identify things x

No such thing as too young! I've read a bedtime story to DD from 10 months when she started having a rough bedtime as part of our routine. She's 16m now and loves books, she spends half her day sat on my lap with them (she's so going to be a big nerd like me and OH!).

OP I wouldn't worry, DC obviously just has different interests at the moment. Have you tried the 'Thats not my' range? DD loves those, all the feely bits keep her entertained. The Hungry Caterpillar is another firm favourite here.

Your little one is very young, try colourful picture books, or tactile books instead of trying long story books. My DS is 3.5 and only started getting interested in reading properly just under a year ago, and can now read really well.

Oh yes, I should say further to my last post that DD at 16 months does not love sitting reading long stories for hours on end. It's much more picture books, that's not my books, short stories with lots of pictures ('can you find the flower', 'where's the dog', that kind of thing). I'm not cracking out the Ronald Dahl just yet!

Ronald? Roald!!

We found story books like the Gruffalo had far too many words on a page. Each Peach Pear Plum is about the right level at that age!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions 🙂 I have books like Kipper and word/picture books and I sit down and read with my eldest every day with her bigger books so shes around it. I have also started making sure I read/show her picture books when she's in her bed every night too. She has started to point at pictures now although through the day she just doesnt care. Like it's been said though she'll get there. I think it's because by now my eldest loved books and she started talking really early and by 21 months you could have a conversation with her which i think was helped on by the books. My 21 month old now only says one or 2 words. She is an extremely active child and doesn t sit still ever. She even moves around alot in her sleep.

I know every hold is different though so she'll get there in her own time ☺

child not hold 🙄