First time readers

Learning to read is an important skill and a big developmental milestone for children. When children start to read will differ from child to child but they are usually ready around the age of four years. 

By reading to your baby from the beginning you will help build a love of books and make it easier for when they get to reading age.

My eldest son loves books and is getting more and more involved when we have our reading time. He follows the story more now and asks questions about what's happening in the story and points things out in the pictures. With the books we read most often, he reads along now, especially the rhyming ones. 

I'm trying to get him started at reading books himself. Some of the things I've noticed that help are:

• Books with colourful pictures.
• Rhyming books.
• Word pattern books.
• Books with actions e.g. pop up books or books with squeaky pages or touch and feel areas.

Letting him pick his own books is a great way to see what interests him most and is likely to hold his attention.

I've also found that he likes books about kids doing things he does but with some humour mixed in somehow. 

He likes Paul's present by Philippe Dupasquier (Andersen Press) as it talks about what children at school got for their Christmas presents. He can relate to the story and characters and it always sparks a 'what I want' conversation that includes anything from the latest toy advertised on TV to tropical animals.

His favourite books are The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's child (MacMillian Children's Books). I started reading them to him when he was a baby and he now enjoys reading along and knows the stories so well he can 'read' them himself. Although he's not actually reading the words the fact that he has memorised the words and can pretend to read them is great for building his confidence.

We also discovered that there is a film version of the book and the website www.Gruffalo.com which is packed full of activities and games related to the books. This has helped make him even more of a fan. We play word games related to the stories to re-enforce the vocabulary learnt. By doing activities related to his favourite books it encourages him to learn whilst keeping it fun and games.

I've already started including my 6 month old in our reading time and he loves looking at the pictures and listening to us. He has his own books too. He has a plastic one (bathtime book) and another called 'That's not my dragon' which has touch and feel pages and colourful pictures.

Other books worth taking a look at:

Rad-Claire the Symphony Mouse introduces young readers to a vibrant world of rock and classical music through the eyes and ears of a plucky young heroine. Rad-Claire is a small mouse with a big passion, and even personal tragedy can t stand in the way of her dreams. Join Rad-Claire in this inspiring tale about heart, music, big city life, and most of all, the love a family has for one another. 

A young girl is on her way to visit her best friend, Annie, who has moved away.
She reflects upon the experiences that they have shared.
Throughout the drive, she wonders if Annie still wants to be her friend.  

At what age did your child start to read? Do you read books to your baby?