The Terrible Twos and reading!
If you are having trouble dealing with the terrible twos stage (and beyond!), perhaps beginning or increasing the reading you do to your child can help.
One of the biggest reasons that the terrible twos toddlers and other young children act up and misbehave is because they crave attention and affection. Reading to the terrible twos toddler will give them the special love and attention they are looking for and help them with one of life's most fundamental skills - reading!
It might surprise you to discover how much these little humans love being read to and pretending to read themselves! Let's talk a little more about how to go about it!
When Should I start Reading to My Child?
It's never too early to start reading to your child. Many experts recommend reading to infants as young as a few months old. Even though very young babies may not understand the words, they benefit from the exposure to language, rhythm, and the bonding experience with their caregiver.
As your child grows, you can continue to read to them at different stages of development. For toddlers and preschoolers, interactive books with textures, flaps, or simple stories can capture their attention. As they get older, you can introduce more complex stories and engage them in discussions about the books.
The key is to make reading a positive and enjoyable experience, fostering a love for books and learning. Starting early helps develop language skills, enhances cognitive development, and establishes a strong foundation for literacy.
The importance of reading to the terrible twos toddler!
As reading is one of the most essential life skills we ever develop, getting your toddler interested in and excited about reading will always benefit them, making the transition to learning to read at school much easier.
Most parents use the crucial time just before bed to read to their children. It is a symbolic routine that settles down the terrible twos toddler and prepares them for bed. By being quiet and simply listening, your toddler (and yourself!) will begin to wind down from the big day they have just had. Toddlers love the closeness and attention that being read to by their mummy or daddy provides.
Do not limit, however, storybook reading just to bedtime. Although this is the norm, reading to your toddler anytime during the day, especially if they have requested it, is always good. You can never overdo reading - fuel their fires!
You can also take your child to the local library, which often has storytelling sessions. The interaction with other children and the extra prowess that these people often have when telling their stories will further interest your toddler in stories and reading. It's also a great way to introduce them to the library.
What's a Good Age to Start Teaching My Child to Read?
The age at which a child is ready to start learning to read can vary as each child develops at their own pace. However, many children begin to show an interest in letters and words around the ages of 3 to 5. Here are some general guidelines:
1. **Read Aloud:** Even before your child is ready to read independently, continue reading to them regularly. This helps expose them to language, builds vocabulary, and fosters a love for stories.
2. **Letter Recognition:** Around 3 or 4, some children may start recognizing letters. You can introduce letters through games, alphabet books, and interactive activities.
3. **Phonemic Awareness:** This involves understanding the sounds that make up words. Activities like rhyming games, identifying beginning sounds, and playing with word sounds can help develop phonemic awareness.
4. **Simple Sight Words:** Introduce basic sight words (high-frequency words that don't necessarily follow regular phonetic rules) as your child shows readiness. Words like "the," "and," "is," and "to" are good starting points.
5. **Interactive Reading:** Encourage your child to actively participate in reading by pointing to words, making predictions, and asking questions. This helps develop comprehension skills.
6. **Structured Learning:** Formal reading instruction can start around the age of 5 or 6 when many children begin kindergarten. However, it's crucial to keep the learning experience enjoyable and age-appropriate.
Remember that every child is unique, and some may be interested in reading earlier or later than others. Pay attention to your child's cues, interests, and developmental readiness, and tailor your 
approach accordingly. The goal is to make learning to read a positive and enjoyable experience.
The Terrible Twos toddler doesn't expect polished professionalism!
You don't have to be a narrator and storyteller of exceptional skill, either! Just reading one-on-one to the terrible twos toddler gives them just what they need; however, I would really recommend having a crack at trying different voices and characters as you read. No one has to know or hear you, and the sillier you might think you sound, more than likely, the funnier your child thinks you are!
You can also make reading more fun by letting them turn the pages for you or by getting them to point out things and objects on the pages. A slight diversion from the story to ask what animal that is and what sound it makes makes story time even better.
But the terrible twos toddler won't sit still long enough for me to read them a book, I hear you say.
Yes, that may be true, but the trick is to start off small, and you will find that their interest will slowly increase. Even if you get through a couple of pages, that is fine. Keep trying, and don't force them to sit still and listen. The attention span of our little ones going through the terrible twos is often not very long, so you must interest them enough to sit longer.
You may have struggled when first starting, and when going through the terrible twos stage, you might hardly feel like starting something new but always remember the quality time together that reading to your toddler gives you both.
Do your best to keep things interactive and fun to keep them involved, and stick to a routine of trying to read at least a little bit every single day. Not only will you and your toddler share beautiful times together, but you will also be laying the foundations for a lifelong passion for reading!
If you want your child to get a fantastic start in life, get them reading early!
You would be surprised to learn how early your child can read and comprehend!
Click the image below to learn more about this incredible program and give your little one a tremendous head start!
