4 Tips for Reading with Babies and Toddlers

Posted by

Tomas Greco

April 17, 2026

On April 17, 2026

Analysis: Reading with young children can be a more enjoyable exploration of pictures and pages than telling a story from beginning to end

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By Suzanne Egan, Jennifer Pope And Mary Moloney Mary Immaculate College

There are benefits to reading with young children, including infants. well documented. some benefits include Advanced language and literacy, which is important for future educational achievement. A growing body of evidence clearly points to the extraordinary brain development that occurs in the first three years of life. suggestion of Language and literacy experiences in these early years set the scene for children’s later development.

However, not all parents start reading with their child as early as possible. Some parents may Thinking That their child will not be interested in books, especially when they are very young and have limited language, or that their child is not ready for it.

Dr Daisy Powell from the University of Reading explains how children acquire reading skills

our research shows Babies as young as three months of age enjoy and benefit from shared reading with their parents and caregivers. This is because reading is not just about the act of reading. Early experiences and relationships Are very important for the overall development of infants and children.

Reading with very young children provides a wonderful opportunity for warm and nurturing conversations. In fact, parents express their delight when their baby and/or toddler points to the pictures, touches them, and responds to the sounds and questions while reading. When approached in a fun, relaxed way, reading with infants and young children can be a mutually enjoyable learning experience for everyone involved.

Drawing from research on what improves the reading experience for babies, there are several important tips to keep in mind when reading with an infant or young child.

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Tips for reading with children from Dr Holly Foley of Dublin Learning City, from RTÉ 2fm’s Lewis McSharry Show

Choose books that are strong, durable and textured

Infants and young children explore books in different ways than older children. They initially experience stories through their senses. They enjoy holding and sometimes chewing on a book. Even small children enjoy touching and feeling the pictures on the pages.

Books made for infants and young children usually have thick study pages, or are made of cloth to withstand rough handling or chewing, and thick pages are also good for small hands. Textured pages with smooth and rough surfaces also aid sensory development in young children.

Choose stories appropriate for their age

Books for babies and toddlers at every age point should be stimulating and engaging. Infants are not born with the visual acuity of adults, and they may see pictures blurry in the first few months of life. Books with high contrast images and patterns may visually appealing For a newborn baby (for example, black and white stripes, large brightly colored shapes).

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Wordless, simple storybooks with single words and large pictures Ideal for older infants and young children. Look for books that contain simple pictures of familiar things, actions, and events.

lead the children

Opening a book with a baby or young child can be less like sitting them quietly and reading a story from beginning to end, and more like reading a story. playful exploration Of pictures and pages. Young children may want to spend a long time on one page, skip other pages altogether, or turn the book upside down.

Before you finish reading the words, they may turn a page, want to create their own story, or have a conversation about a picture. Although it may not seem like ‘reading a book’ in the usual sense, these interactions with a book are typical for young children and support early development and pre-literacy skills.

Incorporate story time into daily routine

When asked what obstacles parents faced while studying with their child, they told Time As an issue, although the parents themselves admitted that it might only take 5 minutes. If finding time is a problem, try incorporating story time into your daily routine. For example, after dinner perhaps sit with the child in a comfortable chair or spot on the floor. They may prefer to sit on your lap, next to you, or in front of you, which helps them associate reading with feeling safe. Bedtime is a great time for books and stories for many families, and parents find it a good way to soothe and prepare their children for sleep.

Reading a book with a baby or toddler should be an enjoyable experience for both the adult and the child

Ultimately, reading a book with an infant or young child should be an enjoyable experience for both adult and child. Encourage children to associate sounds with pictures they see in books. Create your own sounds, and encourage the baby/children to join in. These initial connections and assonances help little children Understanding their experiences, supporting language and cognitive development and possibly the foundation of early reading lifelong love of books.

Dr Suzanne Egan Lecturer in psychology at Mary Immaculate College. he is one Research Ireland award winner Dr. Jennifer Pope Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at Mary Immaculate College. Dr. Mary Moloney Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at the Mary Immaculate College.