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Original poster

Should I encourage my 2 year old to be quiet when listening to stories?

47 replies

Somebodyslookingforus · 26/09/2023 07:28

My 2 year old isn’t really into books but will sit and read with me as part of bedtime routine but shouts all the way through. He will see say a sheep on the pictures and shout SHEEEEP BAAA SHEEEEEEP.

I don’t want to discourage participation. But it makes actually reading to him a bit pointless as I can hardly hear myself think so I feel like I should encourage him to be quiet and listen to the story? Not sure what the right thing to do is.

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allaroundthelamplight · 26/09/2023 07:33

Just let him enjoy it, he's two, he's enjoying time with you. You're not his teacher. He sounds great!

NorthCliffs · 26/09/2023 07:34

Rather than 'reading the story' to him, talk about the story. Ask him lots of questions about what's on the page, encourage the anticipation of turning to the next one: 'What might the silly sheep do next, shall we look?' At 2, go with the flow. The actual reading of the story will come later.

Original poster
Somebodyslookingforus · 26/09/2023 07:37

@NorthCliffs he wouldn’t answer or engage and anyway he can’t hear me, he just constantly shouts. I’d have to yell over him and he’d still just keep shouting things. He doesn’t really answer questions in context very often.

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ForeverTired89 · 26/09/2023 07:58

My DD was like that at that age, I just went with it. Shes almost 3.5 now and tries to ‘read’ books herself and can tell me basically the whole story so despite her always talking over me etc it must’ve sunk in!

Thesearmsofmine · 26/09/2023 08:01

It’s normal at that age, he is engaging in the book just in a noisy way!

Original poster
Somebodyslookingforus · 26/09/2023 08:02

That’s good then @ForeverTired89 !

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BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 26/09/2023 08:03

As long as he us sat engaging with the book then it's worth sitting there doing it. I thought you meant he would get up and move away. Sounds like he likes reading time!

jannier · 26/09/2023 08:04

That's how 2 year olds enjoy books don't put him off them. Get books that are find thing books rather than stories or touchy feely ones. Attention span for a 2 year old isn't much more than 2 minutes

Theunamedcat · 26/09/2023 08:05

Have you had his hearing checked? If your having to shout over him that's not the greatest is it

WhatNoRaisins · 26/09/2023 08:10

When this happens I sometimes give up on the story and try to look at the pictures with them "can you see a butterfly?" "what's that in the tree?" etc.

itsmyp4rty · 26/09/2023 08:12

Make sure you're choosing books with very few words but lots of big and bright pictures. He will be learning so much from you reading to him however it goes!

Original poster
Somebodyslookingforus · 26/09/2023 08:22

Yeah his hearings fine … just a bit wearing when you’re trying to read a story and he’s bellowing all the way through it!

OP posts:
jannier · 26/09/2023 08:35

Somebodyslookingforus · 26/09/2023 08:22

Yeah his hearings fine … just a bit wearing when you’re trying to read a story and he’s bellowing all the way through it!

How longs the story you only want very simple books like board books

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 26/09/2023 08:42

Instead of 'reading' to him ' look at a book together.'

Point to the pictures, make animal sounds, point out colours etc.

johnd2 · 26/09/2023 08:44

Yeah as an adult you think the aim of a story is to read all the words start to finish but really for a child the aim is to have an interesting experience with it.
You can either try to get them into your way, or just get into their way. Only one of those is in your control though!
Another option is to switch to something you can both enjoy together.I switched to singing for a while at 3 years old which was nice.

Enjoy your reading.

ImustLearn2Cook · 26/09/2023 08:53

He is behaving like a normal 2 year old. Just go with it. I think expecting him to quietly listen to the story would be an inappropriate expectation for his age and stage of development.

Kids his age love books where they can lift the flaps to reveal a picture. When he gets to kinder age (3-5) he’ll be more interested in the story. And don’t worry if he accidentally rips the flap off, they’re pretty easy to glue or sticky tape back on.

Shinyandnew1 · 26/09/2023 09:26

If he’s shouting so loudly all the way through that he can’t hear you, I probably would encourage a quieter voice. If he’s just squealing excitedly at the pictures, that’s different. I’d get some lift the flap books so that you’re doing some talking first (I wrote to the zoo to send me an pet..,what do you think they sent..,!!’ and then encourage him to lift the flap and respond ‘lion!!!’ and do some noises, so he’s enjoying the story, is participating but can still hear what you’re saying.

PinkRoses1245 · 26/09/2023 09:27

I’d be discouraging the shouting, but let him respond how he want, he’s only 2.

ElfieLea · 26/09/2023 20:29

Tom Fletcher has a nice series of books There's a ..... in my book. You have to tickle, shake, sing to the book. My 3 yo loves the Unicorn one. I bet you'll both enjoy them.

ElfieLea · 26/09/2023 20:31

jannier · 26/09/2023 08:35

How longs the story you only want very simple books like board books

Show quote history

I agree. Short books he can memorise and shout the words out.

Mummytotheboy · 26/09/2023 20:32

My 2 year old insists we read Goodnight New York City every night! He doesn't listen, he just wants the pages with the taxis on so he can shout cars and the last page because he likes to tell me the babies are in bed!

magratvonlipwig · 26/09/2023 20:36

Nah, its supposed to be fun, hes enjoying it. Let him join in, this phase will pass.
Be glad he's engaging with the story.

NuffSaidSam · 26/09/2023 20:45

I'd shush the noise level a bit, saying 'sheep' is fine, bellowing it is a bit much.

But I'd forget reading the words for a while and just look at pictures/lift the flaps etc.

88Pandora88 · 26/09/2023 20:58

Try explaining before the story that it's bedtime so we need to use our quiet voices. When he starts to shout, try reiterating the quiet voice, or closing the book and saying about quiet voice etc, then continue story.
Maybe try introducing some new books, Julia donaldson has fab ones for 2 year olds, gruffalo, monkey puzzle, night monkey etc.

katepilar · 26/09/2023 21:09

He isnt ready yet to be actually read to. He is just enjoying the book.