Babies are born with an in-built fascination for words and language.

Here are some great ideas for sharing books with your baby

You can keep a stash of simple books beside the sofa,  so when you feel like it, you can snuggle up and share a book. It's a bit of a juggle at first, but eventually you'll get the hang of it. It doesn't even have to be a child's book - you can choose to share your favorite magazine or novel with your baby. I read aloud to my newborn baby boy from a novel - I began the book before we left the hospital and for the next few weeks after we arrived home. Now he's four and will sit for an hour at a time and listen to children's books. So it is just never too early to begin sharing books.

Reading books with nursery rhymes are a fantastic way to teach your baby about intonation. Intonation is the rising, or falling pitch in our voices as we say words or phrases.  In many languages, changes in pitch reflect a change in meaning of what is being said. Reading to your baby helps them to learn and anticipate these changes.

Read or sing to them quite frequently and eventually your baby will come to anticipate their favorite part or will want to join in with the hand movements. They may surprise you one day by using their hands and fingers to twinkle as little stars as you sing the song to them.

Here are a few more simple tips on babies and books

• Introduce a regular reading time into your daily lives. Before or after a nap are good times.
• Remember to start with simple books that use bright contrasting colors.
• Board books are great for babies because they can't tear the pages.
• Babies love books with real photos or pictures of things that are familiar to them.
• By reading to your baby, you are helping him to develop listening skills.
• Role model reading by snuggling up on the sofa to enjoy your favorite novel or magazine while your baby plays nearby.
• By reading to your child from birth, you are setting a solid foundation for pre-reading skills and are fostering a love of reading which will hopefully last a lifetime.

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