
I Love You to the Moon and Back
by Amelia Hepworth
The sun rises, and a bear and cub begin their day together. They splash in the water, climb mountains, watch the colorful lights in the shimmering sky, and play with friends. They show their love for each other by touching noses, chasing each other, and, of course, hugging and snuggling before bed.
Ready, Set, Read!
Let your baby take the lead when you read. Your baby may only sit still for a page or two, turn pages too quickly, or only want to look at one picture and then be done. It is perfectly normal for baby to want to “taste” a book. Follow your baby’s lead to make reading time a positive experience. Make books a part of your daily routine and read before naptime and/or bedtime. Put a book in your diaper bag to read to baby while out and about. This will nurture their love of books and reading from the beginning.
Reading Tips for Curious Crawlers
Your baby loves to hear your voice
Make reading part of your everyday routine
Hold the book so your baby can see the pictures
Talk about and point at the pictures
Count and point to how many people, pets, dots, etc. are on the page
Board books are sturdy and built for babies to handle
Books are a great addition to tummy time
Give baby a clear view of your face and read your own book aloud
Pre-Reading Building Block
As you go about your daily routine, talk to your baby about what you are doing. Ex. “I am changing your diaper. First, I need to remove that stinky one and throw it in the trash. Now I am getting a wipe for that beautiful little booty.” This may feel strange at first, but this effort will help your baby begin to understand a wide variety of words even before they are able to form them with their mouth.
Let's Play
This activity will help your child make connections to the text, which helps children improve comprehension.
Start a journal to capture your favorite moments and milestones with baby. This does not have to be anything fancy and can be created digitally using a basic notes app on your phone or in a notebook. As your baby grows up, they will treasure hearing stories about what they were like during this time.