Book sharing with infants & toddlers

1. Book sharing with infants & toddlers • Purpose is • exposure to books as a concept. • Exposure to their world/basic concepts through the books. • Attachment (build relationships). • Help to build routine (e.g. bedtime, goodbye..) • Develops baby’s sensory & motor skills. • Provides foundations for literacy development. • (Even babies are considered emergent readers)

2. Developmentally speaking • Before 6 weeks- still figuring out basic world. High contrast images appeal to them. E.g. Lowenthahl book. • From 3 months- can look with more focus- still trying to figure out how to use hands & legs. • 6 months: Can sit and grasp. Usually more book sharing and sustained interest in books begins here.

3. What is emergent literacy? • Refers to pre-literacy skills & development. • Literacy development prior to conventional reading. • Some emergent literacy skills include: picking a book, following simple directions, pointing at objects, saying simple words (even those we can’t comprehend)

4. Best practice with infants • Put them on your lap when possible to build attachment. • Use books that have high contrast color large pictures and maybe a word or two per page, e.g., point & name, & simply illustrated. • Choose durable, cleanable, lickable, bendable bks. • Follow baby’s lead (even if it is opencloseback to you). • Be prepared for repetition. • Use multisensory books- texture, auditory, etc.

5. Best practice with infants • Use books that are talking about day to day themes/objects. Remember they are just learning their immediate surrounding.

6. Evaluating your Infant books • What are some of the good qualities they have for infants? • What are some of the thing you could change? Why?