Too much reading - 16 month old

[aquarius1994]

Just wondered what people's opinions are about too much reading. I'll explain below

So as u may see from my previous post, I'm not a naturally fun mum. But i do love reading. So I read him board books like Julia Donaldson Children’s ones like the gruff alp etc and many others, but also what I've been doing is reading him Enid blyton books one by one, chapter by chapter. Is this a bit intense as he's only 16 months and those books are for much older? But while he is playing/walking around I sit on the sofa nearby and loudly read a couple chapters as I figure he may be listening and take in a few words? Or am I mad?

So like today was a quiet day so this morning we played shape sorters and building blocks etc. Then went out. Now back and I done some reading

It's hard to know what to do with a 16 month old like what I can play with him Cos his favourite things to do see dragging a toy phone along by the string or if not then pushing toys along while walking

You can read what you like to him, but he will only have limited understanding. Perhaps though he likes sound of you voice and the company. But read books with pictures, flaps, Jill Murphy books, Spot the dog books, Hungry caterpillar, Dear Zoo. Those kind of things .One that have repetition and predictability, Go to your local library.

I agree with the PP re: repetition. My kids (4 and 3) ask me to read the same books over and over again, they live knowing what's going to happen and pointing out things in the pictures we might not have spotted before. You should read books you like aloud so he's hearing your voice and you're doing something you enjoy. Win win

Put cbeebies on ha, id find someone constantly reading at me very annoying, even if I was tiny

I dunno, would he not learn more words if you just chat away at him while you are doing the housework/going for a walk/playing?

Ok so the CBeebies reply wasn't helpful

We don't go on that many walks and when we do go out shopping etc I live in a big busy area so he's unlikely to hear me. When doing housework etc I do chatter away. With playing his latest thing is pushing things along so not much I can say to that

I read my daughter chapter books as bedtime stories when she was little. We read a simple book together, then she used to like to fall asleep to the sound of me reading. During the day though I just repeated simpler books.

When my eldest was tiny, I read chapter books at bedtime. She liked the sound and it gave me something to do while she settled. Also tried it with my youngest, who loathed it and would glare at me until I shut up. He loves it now that he’s bigger.
No need to force anything - just read at the times when it’s making at least one or other of you happy.

I like your idea of reading aloud. My husbands mother read aloud to him and his sisters while they were eating their tea, and he still waxes lyrical about it. But don't worry that you have to 'do' something all the time. Child pushing toy about is also fine, and you could sit and read your own book quietly or with music on...... You don't need to be a fun mum, just be you.

Let him play by himself. Pulling a toy around is fine. He’s learning about movement, control and the laws of physics

Read your own book or listen to an audiobook or radio while he plays.

Going out is fun so don’t worry about not being a ‘fun mum’

I think reading aloud to him is great! But then I grew up with a mother who read to me. I loved it and I do it myself although it annoys DH. Let him soak in your words and be comforted by your voice.

while he is playing/walking around I sit on the sofa nearby and loudly read a couple chapters

I think it’s fine for him to do his own thing. Will he sit and cuddle with you for the duration of a shorter book. DD is now 22 months and it’s only in the last few months that she’ll engage with Gruffalo etc. That’s not my..., Each Peach Pear Plum, The Baby’s Catalogue, Caterpillar, Peepo much more accessible for her.

If you want to talk to him while he is playing then talk about what he is doing.

"You're having a good game there aren't you little OP? I can see how careful you are pushing the blue car along on its wheels. You are watching out it doesn't bump into the sofa or get tangled up in the rug. I think you are being a very careful driver. "

Then let him get on with it.

Language is about meaning, it's great that you want him to love books, and I bet he does. But stuff like Enid blyton chapter books will not have any meaning for him ATM. Stick to sharing books when you are having close time, half the enjoyment of books for very little children is about repetition, familiarity, and fulfilled expectation so that when you turn the page or lift the flap guess what - spot is in the basket! Again. And again, and again, and again........

Reading is good but make sure that you also teach him to have conversations, where you take turns and interact. And also teach him *how" to read, how to hold a book, turn the pages, look at the pictures and anticipate what might happen next. The danger is that your reading may just become another background noise like the radio or TV as his role in the reading is very passive at the moment.

You sound like a really lovely mummy. If you enjoy reading to him go ahead but I think it's fine to let him potter about too.

When he's playing with toys it's best to talk to him about what he's doing, as someone has already said. If you give him a commentary he will enjoy the attention and pick up the words.

At 16 months he will like books you can look at together. It's always best to do one thing at a time and focus on it, that's how they learn to concentrate. They love pictures, strong rhymes and flaps. And I agree, the same books over and over again. He will have favourites and keep bringing them to you to read.

It would probably be more enjoyable for your child if you got down on the floor and played with him rather than sitting on the sofa and reading at him....?

Yes he will sit and cuddle for a very short book but often wants to take it off me lol

Reading is good but so is quiet - don't be afraid to let him potter for a bit without you feeljng the need to be talking/reading etc

Not Enid Blyton books for his age! There are so many fabulous books a8med at toddlers - read those. The That’s not my... series, Dear Zoo, any life the flap books. Anything to get him interested.

@havalina "Put cbeebies on"

Seriously? You suggest to a parent to stop reading to a child and instead put the TV on? How stupid is this?

I think it’s great; it’s words and his mother's voice. It’s also role modelling reading to him, which is very valuable.

I do agree though with what others say about not being background noise and focusing on a book for maximum benefit, also talking in play being important for contextualising words for him. Also that repetition and interaction are good, and I’ll add alliteration and rhyme.

I used to read lots to my DS as a baby; Bunny Fluffs Moving Day and the like, and I don’t know if it’s related but now he loves reading and he’s always had clear speech.

If you read ABC books I’d use the pure phonic sounds Guide here rather than letter names, as it will help when your DC goes to school.

Singing songs is also really good, nursery rhymes etc.

My youngest was a nightmare to get to sleep, never self settled and just wanted to be awake.

I was doing an Access to Higher Education course at the time which included an English Literature assignment.

I combined the nightly bedtime battle with my assigned reading otherwise if have been too tired to read once she was asleep.

So she had North and South read to her for a month 😂 plus my essay proof readings.

I read age appropriately too, but 15 years on she's in top set for English but weirdly hates reading for pleasure!

Reading is great- the only issue of reading a chapter book is less interaction than some of the more baby books which are great for having your LO sit on your lap and point and things and learn things “dog=woof” “red ball” - chapter books risk just becoming back ground noise.
Are you using the books to avoid engaging more?

Please don’t stop reading and put CBeebies on!
Reading is great. Read in short bursts and his concentration will improve. Engage him as you read. Ask him questions. Ask him to anticipate what happens next. He may not be able to answer but this is all part of reading and Comprehension.

I often read difficult books to my 2 year old because he has a 7 year old brother. So I will read non fiction to the 7 year old and pause and explain it more simply for him.
My 2 year old also likes enacting stories. We like acting out ‘We are going on a Bear Hunt’ ending up with everyone under the duvet. Also with a few toys and props I sometimes act out other books too. (I have a FT job so this is mainly on the weekends!).
BUT. There is nothing wrong with silence and boredom. Kids need to be bored in order to be creative. They need silence to process things. So you don’t need to entertain him constantly. I used to insist on both of mine entertaining themselves in short bursts from a young age. You set up a game, engage and then withdraw. And refuse to get drawn back in despite the whinging. After some time they figure it’s more fun to keep playing than pestering Mummy. So you need a balance between reading and engaging him and playing and letting him pootle around on his own.

I read DS the Odyssey and the Iliad when he was six weeks old. The HV telling me her role was to make sure I talked to my baby enough for him to develop speech made me that cross!

There's nothing wrong with reading chapters as long there are also lots of picture books and conversations about what's in the pictures. Also engaging were little puzzles (Thomas and the alphabet) which helped teach the letter sounds phonetically. And card games where we matched pictures, conversations about leaves, and flowers, stones and cracks in the pavement. Counting conkers and leaf kicking and talking about colours and numbers - seeing numbers, for example 3 and three little pigs by its side and counting them: 1, 2 3.

Mine loved stories and still love books and are voracious readers in their 20s. They were both reading a bit when they started school, knew all their letters and numbers and colours and read their first Harry Potter, silently and to themselves at about six and a quarter.

Oh I just loved being a mummy - all those books and colours and so much excitement about simple things like Oranges in the supermarket are orange - how many shall we have. Patio painting with a big brush and water and the sandpit in the summer.

Brilliant times - enjoy op.