Buying the Ideal Book for Baby
Find the Correct Reading Material Suitable for Your Young Child.
Books are the source of education and even from a young age, children should be introduced to books. Find out what constitutes an educational book for your baby.
Cultivating a reading habit amongst children can be done from the time babies are born. Not only will reading habits come naturally later, reading also ignites curiosity and creativity amongst young children. It also allows you to spend quiet time with him or her. Since reading time is so special, it is best to consider the following factors before buying books for your baby.
Different Colours for Different Ages
Babies are often attracted to rich colours such as red, purple and green. Attractive colours in books help hold their attention and allow them to concentrate for a few seconds. As their gross-motor skills develop, they will probably reach out and touch the colours that have captured their interest. It is important to note however, too many bright and attractive colours per page can be stressful for a young child. Make sure that pages are either mono-coloured or have a range of harmonious colour on a page with one or two bright colours that will interest him.
Newborns are only able to appreciate red, black and white. Books that are available in these three colours will be suitable for newborns. Flashing objects in these colours in front of newborns is said to be able to increase their emotional quotient.
Different Textures and Shapes
Babies learn with their hands and through the sense of touch. That is why babies who are cuddled and kissed more often usually grow up to be more confident children. Different textures such as wool, sandpaper, nylon strings and fur can ignite your baby's curiosity in her reading material. Feeling and describing the different textures to your baby can make reading more exciting.
Shapes are another source of conversation. Point out a shape (for example, a circle) and relate it to other objects around the house. This will help your baby make the connection between a circle and a wall-clock. This will allow him to be observant of his environment, even when he leaves home to attend pre-school.
Few Words Per Page and Simple Drawings
The last thing a baby wants is a book cluttered with letters. A few words per page translates into a sentence per page. This allows your baby to grasp the activity happening on the page, such as "the cat is sleeping". He will be able to connect with the idea of sleeping because it is a simple concept and one that he is familiar with.
Pages that are over-crowded with drawing and decorations can be stressful for a baby - too much content to absorb at one time. Books that have simple designs will help babies concentrate on the picture. A picture of a cat sleeping in its basket under a white moon and one twinkling star is more than enough to talk about for a few minutes.
Pictures of Familiar Objects
Babies learn best at their own paces. Books that allow them to familiarise with the objects at hand are less complicated and more interesting to look at. This can be as simple as apples and oranges - she may recognise them from snack-time. Her clothes are important to her too - she will appreciate hats, shoes, socks and mittens. Animals are an all-time favourite for children since they are usually enthralled by pets and birds.
A Short Story Line
Babies' attention spans are short-lived. Books that are a few pages long will be enough stimulation for a small baby. A short story line also denotes a simple story line that babies will appreciate.
Simple, colourful and textured books filled with familiar objects are perfect for small babies. The first books you read to him or her will help cultivate an interest in reading as he or she grows up.
