Reading is the best way to boost a toddler’s language skills. There is no right or wrong time to raise a child who loves to read. The secret to doing this successfully is to keep reading a fun and relaxing activity for your toddler. Here are some tips to help you guide your toddler to become a reader.

Read Aloud

Read out loud to your toddler every day. Studies show that the earlier parents read to their children, the better their language and literacy skills develop. Encourage your toddler to sound out words and to read a sentence as you continue the story. Reading to and with your toddler makes him feel a part of the learning process which makes the story more interactive, and when a child becomes involved and thinks beyond the plot, he will learn to love reading. This activity not only exposes him to books but also serve as a cozy bonding moment with your little one.

Make It A Part of His Daily Routine

Reading has a way of calming people, which is why the bedtime story is a well-loved tradition. But, there are a lot of daily events that also provide good reading opportunities. For instance, you can read a book over breakfast, during bath time, while he is using the potty, after he wakes up from his nap or during his playtime.

Choose Books That Will Interest Your Toddler

Another effective tip to raise a reader is to provide your toddler books that will interest him. Generally, toddlers love board books, pop-up books, rhyming books, fairytales and books with big and bright pictures. Furthermore, expose him to different kinds of reading materials. If your toddler is interested in cars or if he loves to swim, give him graphic novels, magazines, audio books or reference books about cars and swimming.

Create A Comfortable Reading Space

A reading-friendly atmosphere is very important. Create a space where your little one can read comfortably without being disrupted by the TV, his toys and other people. You can place a beanbag, rocking chair or a couch and a good reading lamp close to a bookshelf in a corner.

Visit Libraries and Bookstores

Make a weekly or monthly trip to the library or to a bookstore and let your toddler pick out books he wants to read. He will love being surrounded with shelves and shelves of books and since he is free to choose the books he likes, he is more encouraged to read.

Talk About It

Do not hold a question and answer session about the story of the book. Ask questions that will make your toddler think beyond the plot. For instance, ask him “Which character would you like to befriend?” or “If you were the author, how would you have ended the book?”. Or, you can try relating events in your family to the story you and your little one just read. Encourage him to ask you questions as well.

Repeat

Children love consistency. Hence, the reason why they want to hear the same story over and over. Once your toddler hears the book repeated a lot, he is able to memorize his favorite words and phrases and point out things in the book he has not noticed before which increases his reading readiness.

Read Yourself

Your toddler loves imitating you. If he sees books around the house and sees you pick up a book, curl up on the sofa during your down time, he will learn that books are essential to daily life. Showing your own love of reading is the most powerful tool to encourage your toddler to read.

Raising your toddler to be a reader is probably one of the best things you can instil in your child. Books are food for the soul, and it is with reading that one’s mind can explore and travel infinitely without spending a cent.

A child’s first word is like music to the ears. Once your toddler utters his first word, another toddler development milestone begins. It is through language where your toddler can explore and discover the things beyond his little world. Your child’s brain is hereditary designed to absorb and learn language and as a parent, it is your responsibility to encourage speech development.

Think about it, your adorable tot may not know how to tie his shoes yet he can rattle off different words and can even carry a conversation like a young adult. Your toddler’s ability to grasp words and retain them on his mind is very strong. There are different easy yet useful techniques that can help improve your toddler’s verbal skills. You can try out these exercises for speedy toddler language development.

Read Aloud

At an early age, you start reading books to your child whether during his playtime or bedtime. Reading to your child is a very effective method to enhance speech centers in the brain to promote his language. Together with your tot, constantly read aloud in a clear and slow manner. See to it that you deliver every line in the book vividly. You can even try acting to make the story more alive allowing your child to interact with you. After every book you read him, make it a point to ask him questions. Start off by asking him his favorite scene or character, the moral lesson of the story or scenes that confused him. By doing this, your child can actively react.

Cut Down Baby Talks

Baby talks are for babies. Once your child hits the toddler phase, it is recommended that you minimize baby talks. Save it for cuddle time moments. In order to boost your toddler’s verbal communication, treat him like an intelligent and mature person. Converse with your child using clear and simple words and in complete sentences. Ask him about his day, his opinion with the things going on around him or the activities he wants to do tomorrow. Listen with full interest and this will encourage him to talk more. Repeat the words he utters to help improve his grammar and pronunciation.

Always Sing Together

Singing is another excellent method for developing your toddler’s words. Sing along to his favorite nursery rhymes and songs. Incorporate it with body movements to make it more fun. Once he has mastered them, introduce him to different songs. After which, you can try letting him fill in the blanks the missing words in the songs.

Inject More Words

When your child says “That is a car.”, repeat his words and add more words to it by saying “That is a bright shiny red car.” If he wants something, say for example he is thirsty, when he says water repeat it and say “Water, please.”. Reiterating and enhancing your child’s words and simple sentences can effectively stretch his vocabulary.

Make Up Your Own Stories

Your child’s imagination runs wild during the toddler stage. Take advantage of his creative mind by creating your own stories. Say for example you were out the whole morning and you went to the zoo and the park. Make up a story about your little adventure. You may start the topic and after a sentence, let him carry on with it. Even if what he says does not make sense, ride along with him. This provides your child confidence that gives him the idea that anything he says is important.

Repeat Words

Repetition is the key to boosting your toddler’s language skills. When talking to your tot, go over with the sentence you just said. Say the words one by one. Exaggerate your pronunciation if you need to in order for your child to catch the words correctly.

Place A Picture For Every Object

Toddlers identify with pictures most. Label basic things like a table, chair, teddy bear, spoon, fork, shoes, an apple or an orange with colorful images. Let your child say the name of every object and always cheer him for every correct word he utters. Once he gets the hang of it, move on to flash cards in different categories.

There are a number of simple ways that can effectively hone your child’s language development. Just be patient and guide him every step of the way. Always interact and play with him many times in a day and before you know it, you have an adorable chatterbox that loves to engage in conversations with different people.