The Thing-BOOK
Up Close & Personal
6 months to 12 months
March 29, 2024
To a baby Reading Time is filled with love and words. Love felt and shown through the closeness of bodies and the flow of words spoken AND the thing called – BOOK. This object is a mystery to be solved, a baby sees their parents hold it, open it, and speak words. This challenges the baby’s brain to understand why? What’s this all about----it seems so exciting? The baby’s curiosity has been piqued by each daily encounter with “the thing - book”. They need to examine and figure out ”the thing-book”---pages and all.
The Read Aloud Relationship
The READER a role model for the importance of reading (What’s it all about?)
- visually--looks at the print and/or pictures on the page
- orally -- speaking the words out loud with expression to engage the reader
- physically—points at key pictures and guides the listener on how a book works
- emotionally—provides warmth and encouragement to listener and future reader
The LEARNER interacts with the reader during Reading Time
- investigates—holds and/or grabs the book/pages—feels the book puts book/pages in mouth—tastes the book
- views—the colorful pictures and watches the reader as words are spoken
- listens—to the expressive voice the reader uses as the book is read
- imitates—sounds heard or tries to make approximations of sounds/words
- appreciates—the tenderness and love shared together
- acquires—language & listening skills and an appreciation for “the thing-book”
During these last months of the baby’s first year their physical capabilities have grown at a rapid pace. When the baby body can sit and move about on the floor, it’s a perfect time to have a basket or box of books available for these little investigators (with supportive help near by). This may lead to a time when they select and hold up a book to be read to them. Oh yes, the repeat stage might begin. A favorite story may be requested over and over. Best get used to this concept because once this appears – it does
not disappear. Repeat readings of favorite books are a necessary part of their language development. “Parents who repeat words more often to their infants have children with better language skills a year and a half later.” said co-author Rochelle Newman, professor and chair, University of Maryland, Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences.
Reading Time is jam-packed with language. At first it might seem as though it is just the parent doing all the talking. Soon the parent will see that the baby is beginning to engage by making babbling sounds. Take this opportunity to interact using “Serve and Return”. Briefly this is when a baby will make a sound, gesture or some other attempt to engage and connect with someone. For example: The baby first serves-presents a happy sound like--ba ba ma when looking at a picture. The baby has started an interaction and the parent returns- responds by saying something like—”Yes, that’s a picture of a dog digging.” Next, the baby claps with excitement - a second serve has been made by the baby. The parent says as a return, “Yes, I think it’s funny too.” “Babies’ brains develop in response to genetic factors as well as early experiences, and in particular, "serve and return interactions" — such as what happens when a child coos and a parent responds”, said Professor Pat Levitt. He is the Simms/Mann Chair in Developmental Neurogenetics at the Institute for the Developing Mind, Children's Hospital.
“Serve & Return” is something that can be done during Reading Time, but what is even more thrilling is that this type of exchange can be done throughout the day with other activities. The baby brain welcomes it and gets fired up with each learning experience. Check out TALKING Time Posts on this website for more specific details on “Serve & Return”.
Print books or ebooks for infants & babies??? Is one better than the other? Research is continuing to address this question—at present the information is mixed on the impact of digital reading with ebooks. It depends on the age of the child, the ebook selected, and the direct interactions between the parent and the baby during Reading Time. There is some research which has concluded that older babies benefit from shared reading using either type of book, it seems that the skills acquired are not necessarily the same.
Screen Time For infants & babies?? What about screen time for babies other than ebooks??
Current research does not support the use of screen time for babies as a substitute for parent-baby interactions. Dr. Patricia Kuhl a leading scientist stated,“ What we’ve discovered is that little babies, under a year old, do not learn from a machine. Even if you show them captivating videos, the difference in learning is extraordinary. You get genius learning from a live human being, and you get zero learning from a machine.” Yes, a baby may be interested in the colorful digital devices & the visual screens; however, their neurons are not developing pathways for learning.
Boston Children’s Hospital reports that, “The study findings, published this week in JAMA Pediatrics, are in keeping with recommendations on media use from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The AAP advises keeping children away from screens until they’re 18 months old and limiting digital media use for 2- to 5-year-olds to one hour per day.”
Chatting to family and friends on devices that include the baby – can be a stimulating activity. These face to face interactions on one’s devices may offer social/emotional connections supportive of early language learning. This talking time benefits the child immensely.
NOTE: More information regarding usage of ebooks and screen time will be found in future sections on this website.
Books are magical and each parent is a magician preforming and inviting their child to step into the world of language and literacy.
Happy Days to you
Kylene
“There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all. ”
Jacqueline Kennedy, editor & publisher
