Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Toddler hates books

33 replies

Starrienightskye · 20/07/2022 06:52

I’ve read to him since shortly after birth, but he isn’t interested and has started taking the book off me when I start to read it to him and putting it back on the bookshelf.

He used to enjoy books with a sound or touch or lift the flap but he doesn’t even like those now. Has anyone else had this?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Newuser82 · 20/07/2022 08:34

Have you tried reading while he is sitting down to a meal, or audio stories in the car? Or getting a few stories out and just sitting reading them out loud yourself when he is playing to see if he gets interested?

FizzyLizt · 20/07/2022 08:36

I reckon he'll get there. My DD was the other way and didn't care about books at all until about 18 months. But now she can't get enough of them. We go to Smyths and she wants to choose a book not a toy!

I was really worried as everyone's babies used to be interested and DD just wasn't. I imagine your DS will get back into them.

RedHelenB · 20/07/2022 08:38

Starrienightskye · 20/07/2022 07:53

Hope it’s short lived! He wouldn’t entertain any books where it is was just the story - needed some lift the flap or touch and feel aspect - but now is even bored of those.

Juat keep offering to read. None of mine were readers but it hasn't affected them academically Going to the library is a very good suggestion.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Children's books Families General parenting

SatinHeart · 20/07/2022 08:42

How old is he OP? At 20 months old my DS2 wouldn't sit still for a book, now at a little over 2 he demands about 6 on a row! He's very active/physical most of the time.

We didn't start doing anything differently, he just matured a bit. He's just getting into stories now but for a long while there he was much happier with first words books, he'd point at the pictures and we'd tell him what they were.

Original poster

Starrienightskye · 20/07/2022 08:44

He is 19 months so definitely not at an age where he likes to stay still! thanks for the suggestions.

OP posts:

junebirthdaygirl · 20/07/2022 08:44

What is he interested in...cars, animals, dinosaurs? Go to the library and find books with those. Some children don't like stories but like factual books. So play to his interests.

Needmorelego · 20/07/2022 08:45

Maybe instead of interactive books like lift the flap etc he would like just a story that he just sits back and listens to rather than having to interact (if that makes sense).
Does he watch TV? There's always story books of the popular stuff (Peppa Pig etc).
Nursery Rhymes are always nice to read aloud and listen to.
Or as others have said - he's just not into books at the moment. Some toddlers are just far to busy for stories because they have important toddler things to do 🙂

Straysocks · 20/07/2022 08:49

Audio books are a good way in, have something on in background that is suitable for age. Don't draw attention to it. Read a page from a book, don't try to finish it. Talk about an illustration from a book in another conversation. Mention characters when out & about, for instance if seeing a dog ask if it is Hairy McLairy's mate and make a funny rhyme. Maybe a book of short poems with illustrations for little ones. I think take the focus off sitting still and embed words/story-telling into daily activities. My younger child was like this and eventually the need to know what happened next or the silliness of some stories and the laughter did the job.

Flip

1 2