| Learning to love reading begins at birth. Newborn | | | | their native language. |
| babies learn about the world around them by | | | | - Talk to your baby all the time. Think of her as a |
| listening to sounds, sound patterns and spoken | | | | good friend and chat away. |
| language. This prepares them to learn to talk and | | | | - Repeat all the sounds your baby makes. |
| to learn the printed words. | | | | - Encourage your baby to make sounds back and |
| Provide opportunities for your babies to love | | | | have a 'sound conversation' with baby. |
| reading from birth by setting a good example and | | | | - Play music to baby as often as possible. Mozart |
| making reading a positive experience: | | | | is particularly effective as it has been shown to |
| - Make story telling a part of your baby's daily | | | | alter the way the brain works and makes learning |
| routine. A good time is after their morning bath | | | | easier. But any music is good as it develops your |
| and when they are enjoying their feed. | | | | baby's sense of rhythm which is good for |
| - Tell a story from memory or recite a rhyme | | | | language development. |
| when breast-feeding. Baby will enjoy listening to | | | | - Show baby posters and pictures from day one. |
| your voice whilst feeding, and that enjoyment will | | | | Particularly black and white images and bold |
| be associated with enjoying stories. | | | | colorful ones. This encourages eye tracking and |
| - Don't think you have to wait until baby is ready | | | | focus needed for reading |
| to read stories or rhymes. Baby is ready from | | | | If you follow all the tips described here your baby |
| birth. | | | | will experience reading as a rewarding and positive |
| - Read to your baby right from day one. Babies | | | | experience where you and baby bond and get |
| love to hear your voice and become familiar with | | | | closer which can only be a good thing! |