Parenting

When should you introduce books to your child?  Right from the start.  Here are some ideas for using books with babies:

• Prop a high contrast board book (such as Tana Hobin’s Black and White)  in your child’s crib so that she can gaze at the pictures.
• When your baby is on her tummy, prop a board book in front of her so that she has something to look at.
• Snuggle with your baby as you look at a book together. Talk to her about the pictures.
• Have cloth or vinyl books within reach of your baby so she can grasp, mouth, and manipulate the pages.

My favorite books for babies 0 to 4 months:

Tana Hobin – “Black on White”,  “White on Black”,  and “Black and White” These books are great for the youngest of babies because of their high contrast pictures. “Black and White” is an accordion book that can be used for tummy time.

Charles G. Shaw – “It Looked Like Spilt Milk“ This is another high contrast book that is great for infants, but is also enjoyed by school age children as well. It has a predictable and repetitive story line.

Thanks for reading!