Fostering a love for reading in toddlers sets the foundation for strong literacy skills. Here’s how to nurture their language explosion and develop lasting habits.
“Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.” – Maya Angelou
Key Concepts
- From 18 months to 3 years old, children undergo rapid language explosion. Their vocabulary goes from a few words to approximately a thousand.
- In early toddlerhood, emergent literacy skills set a strong foundation for more advanced literacy skills: first, that letters on a page have communicative intent. Second, that stories are organized into a beginning, middle and end. And third, the difference between words and pictures.
- Notice what wasn’t on this list: recognizing and labeling letters, reading words, or knowing the alphabet. Your toddler doesn’t need to do any of these yet to be a strong reader down the line. This stage is about building a love for reading, stories, and time you spend together snuggling with a book.
What to Try
- Chat with your toddler during the day, in the car, at bath time, etc.
- Connect with your child around what interests them, and label what they see. Narrate what you are doing using a variety of words.
- Make connections between pictures in books and “real” life. Pose questions as you read to your child.
- Read the same books over and over.
- Take a break and do something else if your child isn't interested in reading. Have your child “read” the book (hold the book, turn the pages).
- You don't need to read every word on the page. Talk about pictures.
- Point out words in everyday life (writing on food packages, signs).