Babies and books is a match made in heaven, if you ask me. Anytime is a good time to share a book, the fun of opening a new one or the comfort of an old, much loved story. The earlier we begin reading, the better.
The vast knowledge of the world is available to those who read. Reading builds listening and language skills, develops imagination and can raise IQ levels. Books teach children about relationships, personalities, situations and what is good and bad in the world. A friend recently posted a quote from the Children’s Movement of Florida that states “Reading to children, even before they can understand, teaches them to associate books with love and affection.”. Isn’t that the best reason to read to children? Well, along with fact that it’s so much fun.
We are wildly excited to be welcoming our first grandchild, ETA August 26th, 2015. Yes, a baby boy, Maxwell Peter James and we love him already. His parents have all the paraphernalia in place; booties, bibs, bottles ….and books!
‘FAVOURITE BOOKS’ was the theme of the baby shower and friends filled two large shelves with a range of reads that will take Max from infancy into adolescence. Along with best wishes, the inscriptions included a story of why the title was chosen: some sentimental and some hilarious but all reflecting a love of books.
Our son’s favourite books from childhood await Max at our house and I’ve added my Trixie Beldon mysteries to the mix. Trixie is the less glamourous cousin of Nancy Drew and I loved reading her adventures. Not that Max will read them or hubby’s Tom Swift books but old books have their charm and we can’t let them go yet.
I look forward to watching Max’s eureka moments as he learns to read and gets an early start to what will become a life-long love of reading. And I promise to not shorten stories by skipping a page or two as I did occasionally when my son was small. You can only get away with that trick a few times anyway. They’re onto it very quickly.
Research suggests that reading and writing can develop simultaneously in young children; that writing is often easier for some children to begin than reading. Whether or not that happens, Max and I will enjoy the beautiful symbiosis of reading and writing and the synergy each gives the other.
For now, I will read to Max and write about the adventures of being a grandparent. Years from now I will give Max a gift of memories and musings from his childhood.
He’s not here yet but the love letter has begun.
