News
Talk to your baby - about books
17 Jan 2004
Learning to communicate is the most important and complex skill toddlers undertake, so they need to be encouraged to talk in much the same way as they are encouraged to walk.
Talking to children from birth is the best way to help them develop good language skills. But when asked why they don't talk much to their young children, parents and carers often give the same responses: "I don't know what to say," "I don't want to look a fool" and "My child won't understand me."
Sharing books is a good way of getting over these fears. Talking about a book and its pictures gives parents and carers something to say. There is a clear purpose to the activity, and it soon becomes obvious that toddlers understand when they anticipate the funny part and giggle as the page is turned.
Communication is the basis of a parent's relationship with their child and sharing books is a great way to trigger interaction that is both natural and fun. Not only will it help young children learn to talk - it also helps parents build a wonderful relationship with their child.
Many of the words that make-up a child's early vocabulary are directly attributable to books, particularly those that use rhyme, repetition and contain funny or surprising parts. There are not many monkeys and lions in the streets of our cities, but there are plenty to be found in picture books like Dear Zoo and Where's Spot?
Sharing books also improves concentration. In a pilot study, Bookstart found that babies who'd had frequent contact with books had longer attention spans as well as better listening skills when they got to playgroup at the age of two or three.
Libraries are the best source of books for children and are more family-friendly now than ever before thanks to Bookstart activities and a growth of Sure Start schemes focused on getting parents into libraries. Many hold special events for babies and toddlers, such as storytelling sessions which help to dispel parent's views of libraries as silent, forbidding places. Babies can join their local library from birth and most libraries do not fine their youngest members for overdue books or damage.
Young children need adequate language skills in order to express themselves, listen, socialise, think and learn. By having the necessary oral language and communication skills children not only gain access to the curriculum but become active members of the community and, eventually, adult society.
From Read On, the magazine of the National Reading Campaign, Winter 2004.
