Reading with your child...please help!

Hi there SydneyHazelton It is great that she picks up and looks at a book no matter how quickly she does it. I would say leave her be to look at the books how she wishes to. Maybe that is how she interprets how she sees you or other people reading. She will in time understand what books are all about. My eldest would never sit still to listen to me read at that age let alone pick a book up.

I used to sit her down and read a book out loud and show her the pictures after i was through reading the page (like they do in school) at first she wouldn't sit through an entire book, but i made it fun by adding special effects like growls or i'd act as if it was the funniest thing i've ever seen just to make her think that *I* was truly interested in what i was reading... eventually she got to where she would sit on my lap and let me read to her from there... from time to time though, she would still flip the pages, but now she's 4 and she seems to like to savor each book, asking questions about the pictures (as we do to her) and heh, now she asks me what *I* think will happen next and she'll tell me what *SHE* thinks will happen next... ah, it was so worth it.

That's pretty common, and not to worry, it's ok. Get her some books with just a few words on each page, on topics she enjoys, and board books that she can look at by herself without destroying them. You don't have to read the words on the page. Just point to the pictures, talk to her about them, ask questions. Try to get her involved. If she still just wants to flip through quickly, don't push too much- that may turn her off to books entirely, at least for a while. Just continue to sit with her and try, and let her do it her way. Eventually she will become more interested and spend more time with each book.

At that age if your going to read the book the pages should have no more then two or three words on them and lots of pretty pictures to look at. If your wanting her to begin early reading then get books with just a couple words that go with the pictures. Thier attention span isn't that long, but you can instill a love of books and reading even at that age. As she gets older and her attention span increases you can start reading her books with more words on the page.

She is a bit young to be listening to stories yet. let her look at the pictures and point to things and tell her what they are, how many there are and the different colours. This will start her off in her learning but take it slowly. She will learn at her own pace and eventually things will start to come together for her. Do not take any notice if someone says their child is more advanced than yours. Children do different things at different times. Just enjoy having her. She will soon be grown up and you will wonder where the time went.

I think it is normal for children on this age range to behave that way. Just a quick scan on the page is good enough, as long as she sits with you and flips on the pages. Its ok to let her do what she wants so as to make the reading time (even if its just 'flipping the pages' time) a pleasurable experience. The fact that she stays focus on the activity is already a sign of a developing attention span. Also, flipping pages is a good activity. It develops fine motor skills. Before you know it, she will develop the interest to the stories =)

Dont push her, forgoodness sake, she is not yet even 2 years! You are making the poor little thing bite off more than she can chew-just by turning over pages, i feel that is a big achievement for a 19 month old!

It is rather hard to read to children at that age. I have that same problem with my nephew. I am lucky if I can fit one story in with him. He will not sit still for a story. I usually just put on a film for him, and be done with it.

Your daughter is showing an interest in books so I wouldn't worry too much. You have to remember that children have a short attention span. Make sure the text in the books are simple when you read to her. You should choose stories that will be quick to read. You may want to try tactics like letting her turn the page. Make a game out of it by telling her you have to read first, and when she hears the ding sound that means turn the page and her turn to do it! Use a bell or just make a ding-ding sound or some other silly sound. Another option is to let her have a turn to read to you. I realize she can't read, but let her tell you the story she sees from the pictures. This is a great way for children to learn and keeps them interested in books. Good luck and have fun reading to your child!

It's normal for their age. The best thing to do is give her some old colorful magazines so it's just okay if she tears it. During their age they also like to touch everything as they are still discovering the feel of everything around them. While she is enjoying in her page scanning, sit beside her and do your own reading also. It doesn't matter if it is orally or just through your mind. The important thing is that you are instilling in the mind of the child that reading is important. Children tends to imitate what their parents do. You will just discover that even if you are not doing it, they will pretend to read even if they do not know what is written on the page. I suggest you also play some classical music on the background because this relaxes the child. You may also read to her aloud while she is sleeping, she can hear it and the story will be absorb. Always tell her also that you love and care for her and will be there always. I did this to may kid, and one day when he was able to speak already, he did just the same thing to me and I was really touched.

My daughter is 18 months old and for the most part she is the same way. Once in awhile she will let me read to her, but not too often. I was told that even making the effort is beneficial. Try just sitting with her on your lap and let her flip through the book. Point out what the different pictures are to her and try to act excited about it. At this age it is the pictures that are exciting to them and not so much the story. Pretty soon she will want you to read the words too.

Watch out, don't make this unpleasent for her, go to your library or book store and let her choose at least one of the books you get. 19mos can have a very short attention span, Make it a bed time treat, but don't force anything she'll come around. My folks use to read out loud at the dinner table, of course we kids were not to interested so we ate our dinner and then we excused. But after awhile they started reading books that were interesting to us, just a chapter a night and pretty soon we were begging for the reading. Just like soap operas. We also learned to read so we didn't have to wait for the grownups. To this day 60 years later we are all avoid readers. LOL

Yes, she is at the age when she is trying to be more and more independent. My twenty-month-old son just recently started climbing out of his car seat, and then out of the car, completely by himself (after I unbuckle the straps for him of course). One suggestion I have for you is to try to read to your daughter at times when she is occupied with something else maybe. For instance, I sometimes read to my son while he's taking his bath. He may be preoccupied with splashing in the water and playing with his tub-time toys, but he is still getting the benefit of hearing me talk, and I still show him the pages and point to the words, just in case he decides to look up at certain points in the story. Or, you could try giving her a picture book to pretend read while you read her the other book.

at 19 months their attention span isnt that great, try the books that have the built in projectors that show scenes of the books on the walls. those keep my son's interests better than anything else. Keep your head up, at least she is showing some kind of interest in them, some kids bypass books altogether.

It is nice that you started reading to your daughter early... but most of the time... it is useless... because kids that age prefer to just look at the pictures... i tried reading to my two year old daughter... but she won't even listen to me... she would rather play with the book... or pretend that she is reading it herself...

I would get her picture books that have maybe one word per page. Make sure they are kid proof. Everyone says to read to your kids, but there are some they do not tolerate it no matter how much the parent wishes they would. I have one that reads regularly, one that reads if he's really interested in the book and one who avoids reading unless she has to. I read to all of them when they were small.

I had the same problem with my son when he was young. He is now 4 and has just recently gotten to the point where he will actually let me read to him. My family would say, "Why don't you read to him," and I would tell them that he would just flip the pages too fast for me to read. She is young and doesn't understand. At this young age, you could just talk about the pictures. You could point out animals or colors on the pages. This will still teach your child some things and your child will still get the benefit of spending time with you and hearing you talk to her.

Might try getting her involved with the story, asking her about colors, shapes,characters or have her tell you her version. If she has heard the book often enough, the version she remembers may be more entertaining than you think. It's not always the activity she will remember, but the one on one time you spend with her. I know looking back on my childhood, the things I remember the most was the quality time I had with someone I loved and felt loved by. I spent a lot of time with my grandmother when I was real little and she would take time for tea parties, drawing pictures or dancing around the room singing to me some funny little rhyme she would make up as she went along. Wouldn't trade those memories for anything. I stayed with her the first 6 years of my life and every chance I had after that.

Let the baby follow her wishes. If she just want to read by looking at the colors and shapes, let her be. It's too early for her to learn. Let her tender mind roam the world of wonders. Don't hurry her, she is still developing her awareness of the physical world around her. Just relax and take is easy.

i think ur daughter is just too little to learn,she is just almost half and one year old.for her,she doesn't know the conception of books and it is the pictures that attracts her. she is inpatient to turn to another page to fresh her sense of vision. maybe when she grows to three or four years old,u can teach her something and read together with her.it is so enjoyable to read with kid and witness their process of growing.now u can turn on ur player and let her listen some short stories to cultivate her sense of listening.maybe she will be interested in that.i also love girls very much and i want to have two lovely daughters in the future. take care,hope ur lovely daughter will grow up healthily and happily.