Talk to your baby about what you see in a book. Let them “read” the book in their own way. Follow their lead to make reading time a positive experience.
Playing games, talking and carrying out activities that have a “back-and-forth” interaction is practice for turn-taking and reciprocal interaction. Such interaction will help babies develop skills for having a conversation later. Children who develop language skills by talking to others will take to reading more easily.[1]
It is alright if babies just sit still for a few pages, turn the pages quickly or only want to look at one picture and then be done. Babies may even like to just mouth the book instead of reading it. Interacting with books together with a trusted caregiver builds bonds between them and helps babies develop a love for reading (literacy orientation).[2, 3]
1. Supporting Language and Literacy Skills from 0-12 Months. (2010). Retrieved from Zero to Three website: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/1281-supporting-language-and-literacy-skills-from-0-12-months
2. Fletcher, K. & Reese, E. (2005). Picture book reading with young children: A conceptual framework. Developmental Review. 25. 64-103. 10.1016/j.dr.2004.08.009.
3. Kupetz, B., & Green, E. (1997). Sharing books with infants and toddlers: Facing the challenge. Young Children, 52(2), 22–27.