Tag Archives: Helping Toddlers Read

What Would We Do Without It Wednesdays: Books, Books and More Books!

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Reading Before Bedtime

Since my daughter was just one day old, I’ve read books to her. Not a day goes by that she doesn’t have a book read to her or leaf through a book on her own. Within the past year or so, I’ve observed my soon-to-be three year old looking at the pictures and composing her own stories more frequently. “Let’s read one more story, please!” she asks. Two books is the minimum when it comes to bedtime stories. When we’re out and about, she observes different words and will spell them out then take an educated guess at what it says. I’m amazed at how often she is correct.

Though her interest in reading may seem natural and even expected by her father and me, I must keep in mind that having access to books and having parents and family members who encourage the enjoyment of reading and learning is a luxury and difficult for some. Also, not all children are interested in books let alone reading, so I am grateful that Quinn is intrigued by books and stories. My little girl went from being an observer simply absorbing what I read to her to wanting to take the book and curl up on the sofa and “read” it to herself.  I don’t know what we’d do without books. It’s a wonderful way for us to bond and for Quinn to continue to develop and discover a never-ending world of imagination and exploration.

All the best,

Tanya

Who Wouldn’t Leap at the Chance to Read with Violet and Cookie Monster?

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Quinn Using Violet Tag Junior

Quinn Using Leap Reader Junior

Even though my soon-to-be- two year old enjoys when her father or I read to her, she really loves feeling like she is reading to herself and controlling what she is reading. She loves flipping through the pages and has even begun to give her own interpretation or variation of the story. I’ve observed her doing this with the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Five Little Monkeys by describing what she sees going on in each picture in the book.  When she was about fifteen months, I purchased her the Violet Leap Reader Junior (Scout, the boy dog is available too). Initially, she was more fascinated with Violet and carrying her around like a toy (She has Read with me Violet and just the dog Violet who can be customized to sing certain songs and include her likes and dislikes as well) and not using it to read along with stories, but lately, it has been one of her favorite activities. Quinn enjoys being able to select what aspect of the story she wants to read. For instance, she has the Sesame Street Numbers Book, which is recited by Cookie Monster, and she is quite discerning when it comes to which number she wants to read and hear about. I had some ambivalence when deciding if I should purchase this device for my daughter because I did not want it to take the place of me interacting with her and reading stories with her. On the contrary, I have found that it is a terrific way to allow her to exercise some independence, to see what she knows by asking her to point to certain objects using the Violet Leap Reader Junior and to see what her interests are as she looks through the stories, and I am able to still be fully engaged with her. This is one device I would certainly recommend to parents of young toddlers, and am sure Quinn would too! Here is a video below of Quinn using her Violet Tag Junior.

All the best,

Tanya