Create a Reading Routine: Establish a consistent reading routine, such as bedtime stories. This helps toddlers associate reading with comfort and enjoyment. Repetition of favorite books enhances familiarity and comprehension. Bedtime stories create a calming environment and reinforce the bond between parent and child, making reading a cherished activity.- Encourage Participation: Allow toddlers to hold the book and turn pages. Ask open-ended questions about the story and pictures to stimulate their thinking and verbal skills. Praise their efforts to keep them motivated.
- Use Big Font Story Books: Introduce storybooks with large fonts. These are easier for toddlers to follow and help them recognize letters and words more clearly. Pointing to words as you read can also help toddlers make connections between spoken and written language.
- Introduce Phonemic Awareness: Use rhymes, songs, and word games to introduce the sounds of letters and words. Phonemic awareness is a key predictor of reading success.
- Lead by Example: Demonstrate your own love for reading. Toddlers often mimic adult behavior, so let them see you reading books, newspapers, or magazines.
By incorporating these strategies, parents and caregivers can nurture a toddler's interest in reading, laying the groundwork for lifelong literacy skills.
