Reading stories to toddlers
Tips for Reading to Infants and Toddlers
By: National Education Association
Published: 01/28/2021
Try these successful reading tips for reading to infants and toddlers:
- Snuggle with your child with her favorite blanket or toys as you read.
- Read with expression using different voices for different characters.
- Emphasize rhythms and rhymes in stories. Give your toddler opportunities to repeat rhyming phrases.
- Use pictures to build vocabulary by varying objects and their colors.
- Use pictures to develop speaking vocabulary by talking about what is shown.
- Encourage your child to repeat what you say or comment on it. Encourage your child to ask questions. Provide models of interesting questions and examples of possible answers. “I wonder what is going to happen next? I think the rabbit will get lost because he is not paying attention to where he is going.
What do you think?”
- Look for books that are about things that interest your toddler. For example, does your child like cars, insects, or animals?
- Make reading a habit for bedtime, after lunch, or after naptime.
- Give your child a chance to choose his own books. If your toddler chooses a book that is too long to hold his attention, read some and skip some, discussing the pictures and how they relate to the story.
- Read stories again and again. Your toddler enjoys repetition and it helps him become familiar with the way stories are organized
Learn More
- 1 Tips for Reading to Young, School-Age Children
- 2 Tips for Guest Readers
- 3 9 Ideas for (Virtually) Celebrating NEA’s Read Across America
Do More
- 1 Get Serious About Summer Reading
- 2 Read Across America: Frequently Asked Questions
- 3 Read Across America for Parents
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Toddler Reading Time (for Parents)
What Are the Benefits of Reading to My Toddler?
Kids who hear a lot of language do better in school. And being read to is one of the best ways to hear language.
Reading to toddlers sets the foundation for later independent reading. Reading problems can be challenging to fix when discovered in elementary school. But many reading problems can be prevented if reading starts in the toddler and preschool years.
Before children can read by themselves, they need early literacy skills. These include:
- having a large vocabulary of words and knowing how to use them
- understanding that words are made up of smaller sounds (called phonemic awareness)
- understanding that marks on a page represent letters and words
- knowing the letters of the alphabet
You don't need games, flashcards, or special instruction for a toddler to learn these skills. Reading to kids as often as possible is the best way to help them learn to read by themselves.
Helping Your Child's Move to Toddlerhood
Reading aloud is also an important way to help kids move from babyhood to toddlerhood. Between the ages of 1 and 3, toddlers have celebrations and challenges. So it can help for them to hear stories about other kids and how they faced their fears about what's under the bed or learned how to use the potty.
Kids make big leaps in vocabulary during this time, and learn about letters, shapes, colors, weather, animals, seasons.
This can be strengthened through books. Choose books with many pictures your child can point to and name.
But while excited to learn about the world and experience it, your toddler also needs a strong connection with you. Reading together regularly can strengthen that connection, helping your toddler feel safe and comfortable.
When and How to Read to Toddlers
Reading to toddlers often (if possible, at least once a day) is a great goal. Choosing regular times to read (especially before naps and bedtime) helps kids learn to sit with a book and relax. But you can read anytime your child seems in the mood.
If your toddler will let you, hold him or her in your lap when you read. This helps your toddler feel safe, happy, and relaxed. It also shows you're giving your full attention as you show your child new things, and encourages your child to participate.
Toddlers like to do things on their own. Encourage this by putting out three or four books and asking your child to pick one.
Praise the selection, let your toddler help you turn pages, and ask for help as you find things on a page. Your child will love to finish sentences in books with familiar or repetitive phrasing or rhymes. When you come to a familiar or repetitive phrase or rhyme in a book, pause and let your child finish.
Here are some other reading tips:
- Read whatever books your toddler asks for, even if it's the same book every night for weeks and weeks (and weeks and weeks).
- Read slowly so your toddler can understand the story.
- Read expressively, using different voices for different characters, and raising or lowering your voice as appropriate.
- Choose board books or cloth books that are durable. You can let your child use these books without having to worry about pages getting ripped.
- Use puppets, finger plays (like the "Itsy Bitsy Spider"), or props while you read.
- Encourage your toddler to clap or sing when you read rhythmic, sing-song books.
- Talk about the pictures. Point to items and name them. Then ask your child to name them with you and praise your child for their response.
- Ask open-ended questions: "Why do you think the lion is going into the woods? What do you think will happen next?" This helps your child to think about the story and to ask questions.
- Use your child's name as the name of a character in the book.
- Have fun! Show your child that reading is enjoyable.
Sitting Still Is Not Required
Trying to read to a toddler who won't sit still can be frustrating. Be patient and keep trying. Find a book or a few pages that are interesting. If that doesn't work, don't force the reading but be sure to try again later. Remember that toddlers love repetition — if your child doesn't seem interested in books, you may need to find a favorite and read it over and over again.
Some busy toddlers like to stand up while you read to them. Others like to look at a page or two before moving on to something else.
Keep the book out — kids might want to return to it later, which you should encourage.
It's OK if your child can't sit still for an entire book — toddlers' attention spans will get longer soon. You might want to keep reading even if your child moves around. Before bedtime, allow your child to touch and play with favorite toys while you read aloud. The sound of your voice will be a soothing reminder of the bedtime routine and that books are a part of it.
You may find that your child sits still while coloring or playing with a favorite toy while you read. Some kids might not look at you or the book, but that doesn't mean they're not interested or listening.
You want your child to have positive associations with reading. If you feel tense or your child resists, consider setting the book aside and returning to it later.
Reading to your child is only one way to build early literacy skills. You also can:
- Talk to your child throughout the day.
- Sing songs together, play rhyming games, and make up your own stories together.
- Provide paper and crayons so your child can practice writing.
Also, consider limits on screen time use, whether that's a TV or other electronic devices.
Choosing Books for Toddlers
Toddlers want to feel included and capable. So choose books they can follow along with, especially those with familiar or repetitive text so they can fill in words. Keep your toddler's interest by choosing books with small amounts of words on the page and books about topics that you know your child will like.
For younger toddlers (12–24 months):
- You'll want sturdy board books with pictures (especially photos) of kids doing the things they do every day. Books about bedtime, baths, or mealtime are all good choices; so are books about saying hello or good-bye. Keep active hands busy with lift-the-flap pages and textures to feel.
For older toddlers (24–36 months):
- Kids this age are starting to turn paper pages, so it's a good time to move beyond board books.
They're also beginning to understand the mechanics of reading. They like books that are repetitive and easy to memorize so that they can "read" along.
By now you will start to know what your child likes. Whether it's trains, trucks, or stuffed bears, find books about these things. Kids this age also like books about children, families, and animals.
Toddlers love to look at homemade books, scrapbooks, or photo albums full of people they know (try adding simple captions). Poetry and songbooks are good choices for this age group too. You may find that story time turns into sing-along time.
Easy Ways to Keep Books Available
Toddlers love to choose and look at books on their own. Keep books in a basket on the floor or on a low shelf where your child can reach them and look at them by themselves. Keep some books in the car and always have a few handy in your bag for long waits at the doctor or lines at the grocery store.
Visit the library or the bookstore and let your child pick books to read at home.
Many libraries and bookstores have toddler story times that kids enjoy. And let your child see you reading for fun. It's a great way to be your toddler's reading role model.
Reviewed by: Kandia N. Lewis, PhD
Date reviewed: August 2019
Fairy tales for the little ones - read for free online
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Russian Folk Councils
The puppy was sleeping on a rug next to the sofa. Suddenly, in his sleep, he heard someone say:
— Meow!
The puppy raised his head, looked - no one was there.
“I must have dreamed this,” he thought, and lay down more comfortably.
And then someone said again:
— Meow!
Who is there?
Puppy jumped up, ran around the whole room, looked under the bed, under the table - there was nobody!
I climbed onto the windowsill and saw a Rooster walking outside the window in the yard.
"That's who didn't let me sleep!" thought the Puppy and ran into the yard to the Rooster.
— Did you say “meow”? asked the Rooster Puppy.
- No, I'm saying... The rooster flapped its wings and yelled: - Ku-ka-re-ku-oo!
— Can't you say anything else? - asked the Puppy,
- No, only "crow", - said the Rooster.
The puppy scratched his hind paw behind his ear and went home...
Suddenly, at the very porch, someone said:
— Meow!
"It's here!" said the Puppy to himself and quickly began to dig under the porch with all four paws.
When he dug a big hole, a little gray Mouse jumped out.
— Did you say meow? the Puppy asked him sternly.
“Pee-pee-pee,” the Mouse squeaked. — Who said so?
- Someone said meow...
- Close? Mouse got excited.
“Right here, very close,” said the Puppy.
- I'm scared! Pee-pee-pee! squeaked the Mouse and darted under the porch.
The puppy thought.
Suddenly, near the doghouse, someone said loudly:
— Meow!
The puppy ran around the kennel three times, but found no one. Someone stirred in the kennel...
“Here he is! the Puppy said to himself. “Now I'll catch him…” He crept closer…
A huge shaggy Dog jumped out to meet him.
— Rrr! the Dog growled.
— I… I wanted to know…
— Rrr!
— Did you say… “meow”? whispered the Puppy, tucking his tail.
- Me? You're laughing, Puppy!
The Puppy rushed with all his might into the garden and hid there under a bush.
And then, right above his ear, someone said:
— Meow!
The puppy looked out from under the bush.
Directly in front of him, on a flower, sat a furry bee. "That's who said "meow"! thought the Puppy and wanted to grab it with his teeth.
- Z-z-z-z! buzzed the offended Bee and painfully stung the Puppy on the tip of his nose. The Puppy screeched, ran, and the Bee followed him!
Flies and buzzes:
- Oh, sorry! I'm sorry!
Puppy ran up to the pond - and into the water!
When he surfaced, the Bee was gone.
And then again someone said:
— Meow!
— Did you say “meow”? Puppy asked the Fish, which swam past him.
The fish did not answer, waved its tail and disappeared into the depths of the pond.
— Kwa-kva-kva! laughed the Frog sitting on the leaf of the lily. Don't you know that fish don't talk?
— Maybe it was you who said “meow”? asked Puppy Frog.
— Kwa-kva-kva! Frog laughed. - What a fool you are! The frogs just croak. And jumped into the water.
