Choosing Books For Toddlers

Encouraging toddlers to read is not just important for their overall development, but is also, an interesting activity that could easily go on to become the delight of a lifetime. Books and reading open up a whole new world for the imaginative, inquisitive toddler who learns to look at books and build language and vocabulary skills as well as develop a fertile and vivid imagination. However, it is important that parents choose the right kind of books for toddlers, since that would ensure that the little ones take to reading easily. Here are some things that you could keep in mind while selecting books for toddlers.

Board Books

 The bookstores are flooded with a huge variety of board books and these books are ideal for toddlers, since they are easy to handle and can withstand considerable rough handling by eager, little hands.

 Picture Books

 Toddlers enjoy being able to see pictures and therefore, picture books would also, be a hit with them. You could point out what each picture shows and help them to build vocabulary and language skills.

 Cloth and Vinyl Books

 These books don't really give the feel of a real book as much as board books do. However, some toddlers would enjoy the soft feel and the ability to have a book in the bath more than anything else. These, too, can withstand rough handling and the colorful pictures are great to hold toddler attentions.

 Books With Textures and Activities

 These days, there are many books for young readers which have a lot of textures and activities. For instance, in a book about animals, the lion’s mane may be yellow wool. These are educative and interesting and toddlers enjoy being able to touch and feel different things. Books with flaps to lift and see what’s hidden underneath are also, quite popular with toddlers and encourages their natural curiosity.

 Age Specific Books

 While choosing books for your toddler, it is important that the books be age-specific. There is little enjoyment for a toddler to look at books meant for older children. If your toddler is 15 months, pick a book for the age-group 12 months + and so on. These books would have words and pictures that toddlers of a certain age group would be able to absorb and relate to. Not being able to understand anything would only frustrate the curious little reader and lead to a lack of interest in books.

 Story and Rhyme Books

 These are always, the favorite sort of books and can easily become a part of a bedtime ritual. Reading rhymes and stories to your toddler can be an enjoyable and fun activity for both of you and also, develop an early love for reading. Pick any simple story or rhyme book. 

 Reading is such an enjoyable activity and it is easy to encourage toddlers to start reading. The article Make Reading Together Fun for Your Toddler and You would offer some helpful suggestions to get you started once you’ve chosen the perfect book for your little reader. So, spend some time choosing the right books and then, embarking on a journey that would make reading not just interesting and educative, but a habit that would last a lifetime.