If a step by step procedure that could guarantee and stimulate creativity was ever to exist, one habit it would most definitely encapsulate would be reading!
By giving wings to your curiosity, this is one skill that can improve the way a toddler would communicate their thoughts and eventually learn to write and express themselves with the help of the same. The two ways of reading a book are; Reading for pleasure & Reading for the sake of it. While the former would play a major role in the way your toddler would perceive the world, the latter is a more passive way that might make them more informed of their surroundings but would be comparatively less beneficial in the long run.
To reap the most benefits out of instilling this habit, you must ensure that your toddler is actually enjoying the books you are reading out to them, so that they begin to look forward to that time of the day, instead of dreading it. Keeping the books within as much reach to the toddler as their toys could also increase the possibility of them piquing the interest and attention of your younger one.
Some more tips and tricks to make reading a regular part of your toddler’s schedule are-
It’s Okay To Go Slow
Keep in mind that it is never too early to get into the habit of reading, however, it is of utmost significance to be considerate towards the toddler’s attention span so that they perceive the reading time as enjoyable and not forceful.
Know that it is completely alright to not finish a story in one go, start with a few minutes per day and eventually go on to read a few times during the day.
Make sure that your toddler participates in the reading and is not just a mere observer to it. They might not be able to read out the words written in the story or even to turn over the pages of the book by themselves, however letting them try would make them feel more involved in the process. As a result of it, they might be more receptive towards the ideas which that particular book reflects and start to resonate with them, eventually.
Pick Wisely
It is understandably confusing to figure out which book would be the “right book” for your toddler as it would have the power to shape their way of thinking to a certain extent but it is also important to remember that at the end of the day it is in your hands as the parent or the caretaker to encourage or discourage their behaviour.
A very basic requirement of a children’s book is for them to have a lot of clear pictures, as they pique the interest of the younger ones the most. Moreover, having simple repetition would make it easier for the toddler to learn the right pronunciation of words and broadly speaking, for making them familiar with the better use of language.
A few more things to keep in mind while buying books for your child is that a book with a different texture, sing-song lines, pop out – props, photo albums and nursery rhymes might seem more attractive to them at that age in comparison to the actual context that it is written in.
Make The Story More Tangible
Talk about the story in a way that feels more personal and relatable to your toddler. The key here can be to compare the characters of the story to real-life through the people they know, pets they are friendly with or the entire community that they are a part of. This can also be a way to educate them about the community we live in and its functioning.
Using different voices for different characters and having expressive body language might extend the otherwise short attention span of a toddler. You can describe the pictures or even ask your little one to describe them to you, singing a few lines from the book can prove to be another way to grab the attention of your child.
If your toddler is slightly older, you can try to engage them with the book by encouraging them to ask a lot of questions throughout the course of the story, you can even put them in a make-believe situation where they are also a part of the narrative and are there to witness the entire plot, this could really build their imagination.
Create Your Own Book
Reach out to your own creative potential and create a colouring book along with your toddler because the goal here is not only for them to enjoy reading any one book in particular but to make them fall in love with the whole process of reading.
You can make a picture book, with photographs from the times your little one was there to witness or even the time before them, it can be just another way to tell them stories about your then experiences.
Once your toddler grows to a certain age, you can come back to this book and ask them to draw a story, or think of a story that the existing drawings are trying to narrate. This way, they would be encouraged to think beyond what meets the eye.
Conclusion
As a parent, the power of portraying everything under the sun in a good or a bad light lies in your hands. Therefore if you practice what you preach and start to read yourself, in your free time, your little ones will eventually start to imitate you. Providing them with a set of guidelines or rules might not prove to be as successful a method, as just doing what you would like them to do in front of them. At the end of the day, as a parent or a caretaker, you are a role model for your child and they would look up to you in each and every aspect of life, even when it comes down to imbibing a skill or a habit.
