3 books to read to your toddler this September
I adore books for supporting speech and language skills.
Did you know that parents who read 1 picture book a day with their child expose them to an estimated 78000 words a year?!
Books are amazing tools for language development because they expose children to familiar/ high frequency words (the words they will hear day in day out) through repetition.
They also expose them unfamiliar/ low frequency words. How often do you use the phrase “gust of wind”? If you’re like me, never! This phrase is used in one of the recommendations below, and through reading that story, you have the opportunity to teach what this phrase means in a very gentle, low-pressure way!
Reading has also been found to support bonding between parents and their children, and promotes emotional and social development. All in all, books are brilliant!
With that in mind, here is my round up of my favourite books that I have discovered during September…
Kitsy Bitsy's Noisy Neighbours by Polly Faber and Melissa Crowton
This brightly illustrated picture book is a great one for supporting speech and language skills.
It uses rhyme and rhythm to tell the story of the neighbours living in Park View Rise.
As speech therapists we often work with little ones one rhyme as it plays a role in phonological awareness (awareness of sounds and how they fit together to make words).
So choosing a book with rhyming elements is a great way to help develop your little one’s listening and auditory discrimination skills.
Captain cuddles By Maudie Powell-Tuck and Julio Antonio Blasco
This is a story about a super hero who turns ‘badies’ into ‘goodies’ through cuddles!
The lovely thing about this book is that it is interactive, with lift the flaps!
Lift the flap books are brilliant for working on anticipation, requesting and turn taking with little ones. Read your line and then pause to allow them to lift the flap or ask you to do so!
The Elephant Detectives by Ged Adamson
This is a sweet story about 2 friends who go looking for their missing elephant!
The nature of this story explores lots of different environments (on the elephant hunt) which allows for plenty of opportunity to model new vocabulary (e.g. cable car), and familiar vocabulary (e.g. inside).
Maximise this book by pausing every few pages and pointing out interesting things you can see on the pages.
When you do this there is no pressure for your little one to join in, simply for them to be present with you whilst you read. Of-course if they do point things out themselves, go with that and follow their lead!
Some links are affiliate links which means if you click through and buy using that link I will earn small commission from that purchase. Using my link does not affect the price you pay for the item. Thank you for your support!
