My 11 month old never seems to enjoy book time. He either can't sit still or grabs the book out of my hand. I know some babies love story timeand sit through an entire story. Am I doing something wrong? Can anyone offer any suggestions.
Try doing the voices, or maybe an interactive book. My stepmom got my daughter a book about emotions that had a mirror in it. on each page was a different emotion, happy, sad, scared, excited, etc. and i would ask Brooke to make that face too and look at it in the mirror!
You could also try books before nap/bed time. that way he is already tired and less likely to squirm.
TRY READING FOR TWO MINUTES AT A TIME THEN SLOWLY INCREASE YOUR STORY TIME. REMEMBER THAT A INFANT/TODDLER SITTING STILL AND PATIENCES IS ONLY ABOUT 5 MINUTES. SO START SLOW AND MOVE UP. TRY SINGING SONG AND NURSERY RHYMES THIS IS HOW I DID IT WITH MY 16 1/2 MONTH OLD AND 18 1/2 MONTH OLD. THEY BOTH LOVE TO BE READ TO. THEY SIT STILL FOR 10 MINUTES OR SO. i DO HAVE A STRUCTURED HOUSEHOLD THAT IS THEY CAN PREDICT WHAT COMES NEXT. I AM A STAY AT HOME MOM WHO WORKS FROM HOME SO I THINK I JUST HAVE TO MUCH TIME ON MY SCHEDULE. GOOD LUCK AND LOTS OF PATIENCES AND IT WILL PAY OFF. T.
He is enjoying story time!
At his age all you want to do is show him that a book=fun/interesting. Let him hold it, let him turn the pages, let him chew on it! It's all about exploring. My now 4.5 year old loved books, she threw them, chewed on them, flipped pages, looked at pictures, yelled, and every once in a while sat still for a story (usually one that was a song or rymed) and now she LOVES to read books. She will sit and tnr pages and tell herself her favorite stories for an hour at naptime and begs to have book after book read to her, make a book the staple toy in your diaper bag, bring them everywhere and grab them out anytime he is bored, you will need lots! . Make sure you have good books for his level. LIttle cardboard books, try ones that ryhme like goodnight moon and brown bear.
Lift the flap, rymes, favorite characters, and songs can all get babies into books.
My little one loves the books with touch & feel elements. We have several ones that are about animals that have actual faux fur samples on each page she can touch. He'll get there with you. It'll be a few months before he'll really sit and "read" with you.
You have already received some wonderful advice, I am probably going to repeat some of it but here it goes. First I would like you to know that my children are avid readers, my son started second grade reading above a 5th grade level and my daughter is going into first and already reading chapter books (although recently she informed us that she is into "information books" now) My 2 1/2 year old pretends to read, running his finger along the words while making up his own story, he is to the point now where his story actually relates to the pictures (usually!) Anyway here is what we have done, oh also, my youngest was much like yours and I was afraid he would not enjoy books like his siblings, he was always the least interested kid at library story time, so we quit going.
Onto our method, board books are always within reach of the children, they are free to look through them whenever they want, although from the very beginning we taught them all how to take care of books, no chewing, ripping, drawing on etc, any of these offences would cause the books to be taken away for a short while. If I noticed a book that was getting a little more attention then the others I would read a page, sentence, or even just a couple words. Read what you can before they take it away. No matter what I am doing, if a book was brought to me I would read a bit of it.
11 months is when they really just want to play with the book, and really that is ok because it is still an intro to books! As your son get older and starts to like certain things, Dora, Pooh, Thomas, whatever it may be, you can get books on the things he is into, this will help.
I applaud you for introducing books so early, and remember they will show more interest if they see you read.
Try the lift the flap books. My kids love those and that gives them something to do while you read. Or sometimes the books that have things you have to find in them like Goodnight Moon you find the mouse or the Little Critter books have the spider and the grasshopper you have to find.
Good luck
M.
It's funny you write this today. My 3 yr old has always loved and listed completely to books and now I find my 12mo. old restless and uninterested in reading. The only way I can get him to "listen" (sit still) to a story is to give him is own book and sit right next to him and read the one I have. He usually gets a touch and feel book. Of course he looks over when I make funny voices or noises but for the most part he flips through his and that lasts maybe 5 min. Can't ask for too much I guess. As they say, all kids are different and I think it's great that you are really trying. It will really pay off. This success is new to me of only a week so I hope it continues to work and works for you too.
Good Luck!
The only way my husband and I can get our nine month old son to sit through a book is to read the one's with the buttons on the side that make music or silly noises. He absolutely loves them. We have an Elmo one that we read to him every night. I would give that a try.
