Books and Toddlers: 12-18 Months

November 19, 2008

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Books and Toddlers: 12-18 Months

by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P.
reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P.

At 12 to 15 months, many toddlers are just beginning to say a few words. The discovery that things have names (and, eventually, that every thing they see has a name) makes looking at pictures and hearing their names fascinating.

Board books challenge toddlers to develop small-muscle coordination. Around 12 months, toddlers stop putting the books directly into their mouths. Instead, they explore how the pages move. Around this same time or a little later, toddlers enjoy opening and closing the book, and flipping over several pages at once. By 18 months, many toddlers have learned how to turn pages one at a time.

More and more, the toddler also pays attention to what the pictures show. A 12- to 15-month-old may be fully content to hold the book upside down. By 18 months, many children will turn the book around so that the pictures are right side up.

Many younger toddlers are in love with movement. Those who are not walking yet still love the rocking, tickling, and hugging that go along with reading aloud. Those who are walking may only sit still for a few minutes at a time, but they often enjoy listening from across the room. Mobile toddlers will often carry a book around, or bring it to a grownup to read.

Emotionally, young toddlers are just discovering their own wills, and often want to be in charge of everything, including books. They become quite fussy if parents keep control over prized reading materials. (On the other hand, they lack the coordination to hold the book open and steady enough to read.) They may insist on picking the same book over and over, and will protest if parents insist on making their own selection.

To avoid a power struggle with your budding book lover, here are some things you can do

Store books on a low shelf, so that your toddler can be in charge of getting them out and putting them back. Put only three or four books out a time--too many makes the choice too overwhelming and just increases the number of books you'll have to pick up off the floor.

Pick a regular time for reading when your active toddler is more likely to be willing to sit in one place for a bit--before or just after naps or bedtime are usually good .

Be sure, when reading with your toddler, to offer a cozy lap. Cuddling is an important part of a young child's total experience of literacy. But if your independent toddler wants to move around, that's fine, too.

Take books along in the car or stroller, for diversion if you have to wait at a store or for a quiet break at the park.

Make sure there are long TV-free stretches. Books cannot compete with the TV for color, action, and sound (although I don't know of any young child who prefers TV to a living parent and a book!). But if the TV is off, many toddlers will be very happy exploring books for quite a while.

Make trips to the library or bookstore a part of your routine.

Don't worry about books getting destroyed by eager hands. Buy inexpensive board books, and let your child enjoy them freely. In time, he will come to respect and honor books.

When "reading" aloud, don't over-focus on the actual words in the book. Make up your own, ask questions, sing songs, play "where's the doggy" (or whatever the character is), make animal noises, and generally, have fun!

Talk about:

Reading and Your Child


RELATED INFORMATION

			Books and the Older Toddler: 18-24 Months
			Reading Aloud: Nurturing Literacy

Created February 24, 2001
Reviewed February 28, 2001

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