Reading to Toddlers: How to Make Board Books Engaging
Reading books provides a wonderful opportunity to bond with your child while nurturing their cognitive, language, and even motor development. Toddlers are full of energy, so how do we harness it to make reading even more engaging? BOARD BOOKS!
Board books are not only sturdy and durable but also an excellent tool for engaging toddlers in the world of reading. These interactive books can captivate their attention, stimulate their senses, and make the reading experience more enjoyable. In this blog post, we will explore creative ways to read and make board books interactive for toddlers, fostering their love for reading while encouraging their cognitive, language, and motor development.
1. Incorporate Actions and Movements:
When reading a board book, incorporate actions and movements that correspond to the story. For example, if the book features animals, encourage your toddler to imitate their sounds or movements. If a character is jumping, you can jump along with them. By involving their whole body in the reading experience, toddlers stay actively engaged and enhance their understanding of the story.
2. Use Props and Manipulatives:
To make board books interactive, consider using props and manipulatives that complement the story. For instance, if the book is about farm animals, you can have small toy animals that your child can hold and play with as you read. If the book mentions fruits, bring out real fruits for them to touch and explore. Props and manipulatives provide a tactile experience that reinforces the concepts and helps toddlers make connections between the book and the real world.
3. Introduce Lift-the-Flap and Peek-a-Boo Elements:
Board books often feature lift-the-flap or peek-a-boo elements that toddlers find incredibly exciting. These interactive features add an element of surprise and anticipation, encouraging toddlers to actively participate in the reading process. As you read, encourage your child to lift the flaps or play peek-a-boo with the characters. This not only enhances their fine motor skills but also keeps them engrossed in the story, as they eagerly anticipate what lies beneath each flap. Model “knock knock knock” on the doors and encourage your child to request that you “open” the flap!
4. Point and pause:
Toddlers are eager to explore and learn about the world around them. Take advantage of their curiosity by pointing and pausing. This empowers your child to actively engage with the book and take an active role in the reading experience. I often like to turn the page and gasp and exclaim- “wow!” while bringing attention to a specific picture in the page. Then, I PAUSE, and use wait time to encourage the child to narrate the story.
5. Create Sensory Experiences:
Engage your toddler's senses by incorporating sensory elements into the reading session. For instance, if the book describes different textures, you can have fabric swatches or textured materials for them to touch and feel. If the story involves water or rain, you can lightly mist water in the air to create a sensory atmosphere. Sensory experiences add depth to the reading process, making it more immersive and memorable for toddlers.
Try it out! Let your imagination run wild, and watch as your toddler's love for books blossoms through these fun and interactive reading sessions. Here are links to a few of my favorites: