morgan

Great things happen when you read with your baby. First, their vocabulary explodes. Books are fantastic for introducing your little one to new and varied language. Second, they begin to associate reading as a pleasurable activity. Not only is it fun, but it’s something special to be done with YOU. And even before they’re exposed to formal instruction, your baby will begin cracking the code of written literacy - learning important basics/concepts that will scaffold their later success. I just love this short video, shared to IG by alyssakatejohnson. In an effort to usher in naptime, mom and dad have removed the board books from this little one’s crib. But that doesn’t stop our hero. She manages to find herself a “book” - reading the laundry instruction tags sewn to her blanket. Note, btw, that she orients the “book” correctly, already showing an awareness of print’s directionality. Of course we don’t learn to read by example alone, but - taken in combination - baby’s expanded vocabulary, identification of reading as pleasurable, and early understanding of how print works will all give her a leg up when it comes time for more formal instruction. She’s already putting the most important factor on display: a desire to read.