How to Share Books with Your Children
6 to 8 Months Old
6 to 8 Months Can:
- Hold onto a book and pat the pictures
- Explore a book by feeling it, turning it even biting it
- Copy some of the sounds you say or the looks on your face
- Smile, laugh, squeal, reach for the book. Lets you know they want to keep going.
- Pay attention for a few minutes at a time. They will let you know how long they want to read with you.
You Can:
- Find a quiet, cozy place to cuddle up with a sturdy book or 2
- Name & point to the pictures your baby shows interest in
- Help turn the pages following your baby’s interest
- Act out pictures using your face, hands and voice
- Make a game of copying your baby playing with books
- Talk about how your baby is enjoying the book. You can say: Is it a doggie. Doggie says woof woof.
9 to 11 Months Old
9 to 11 Month Olds Can:
- Reach for their favorite books
- Hold onto a book and pat the pictures they like
- Explore a book by putting it in their mouth, turning it upside down or opening/closing it. They may also explore by dropping it, listening for the sound.
- Copy some of the sounds you make, the looks on your face or your gestures.
- Pay attention to a book for a few minutes at a time
You Can:
- Find a quiet, cozy place to cuddle up with a sturdy book or 2
- Name & point to the pictures your baby is looking at
- Turn the pages, follow her interest
- Act out pictures using your face, hands and voice
- Make a game of copying your baby playing with books
- Talk about how your baby is enjoying the book. You can say: You like that car you’re patting. The car goes beep beep!