Story Time is Toddler Learning Time

Story Time is Toddler Learning Time


Your child is becoming more adept at Reading Books and Stories by 18-24 months old, and she will will show you her increasing Vocabulary Knowledge and growing comprehension skills by listening with interest and letting you know she understands what she hears. While she may not always verbally communicate at this age, you will know that she understands the story, through reactions or facial expressions, hand gestures or body movements, or simply staying alert and paying attention as the story unfolds.1 In addition, your child’s attention span is growing longer now, so she will be more apt to sit down and listen to a book or do a quiet activity on her own for a longer period of time. Activities that focus on vocabulary, such as reading, are not only good for her but are also a fun and interesting activity for her at this age.

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Toddlers are fascinated with naming everything in their books and the world around them. “First Word” books with pictures and labels are a great way for children at 18-24 months old to quickly grow their vocabulary and develop preferences for objects. When reading picture books now, you may notice that she’s eager to observe and name favorite objects in familiar books. She loves this activity because she’s excited to share with you her new knowledge of things that are out there in the real world. Many children at this stage really enjoy reading and talking about their favorite topics, so don’t be surprised if your child shows a preference for collecting puppy books or pointing out all the trucks she sees that look like the ones found in her books.

By 18-24 months old, your toddler will be so engaged in Reading Books and Stories that she may want to listen to multiple books in one sitting, read her favorite books over and over,2 turn the pages herself, or read the story on her own.3 Her reading comprehension will also grow, and she will show you this by answering simple questions about the story or relating to characters by showing empathy when they experience trouble or joy. She may even start to act out what happens with stuffed toys and play props. These actions will show how much your child is beginning to understand story content, so be sure to really indulge her with a wide assortment of interesting books! Like a little sponge, she will absorb all of the stories and vocabulary and strengthen her language skills.

Play Tips:

Do you want to know how you can support your child’s development of Reading Books and Stories and Vocabulary Knowledge skills at this age? It’s easy! Read on for some simple tips to incorporate into your daily play time together.

  1. Read aloud together when your child shows an interest in a book. As your child develops favorite subjects, like animals or cars, she will naturally be motivated to explore more books and stories on these topics. If she does not have favorite topics at this point and does not stay focused during story time,4 consider writing a short story about your child and family using family photographs. She will love reading about herself and pointing out various loved ones, including you, your partner, siblings, grandparents, and pets. At every opportunity, show enthusiasm when she wants to read to encourage a lifelong interest in books and stories.
  2. Talk about the characters and events in storybooks. Engage your child in a thoughtful discussion about the story to build reading comprehension skills and help her stay focused on it. Ask simple “who,” “what,” “where,” and “why” questions while reading together (e.g. “What did the baby eat?”). Because her memory is still limited at this point, asking these questions as you read the story will help your child find the answer with information on the page before her.

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Developmental Milestones:

Has your baby achieved the following Reading Books and Stories and Vocabulary Knowledge developmental milestones yet? If yes, check off all the skill(s) she has already mastered to date using Playful Bee’s developmental milestones tracker. It’s absolutely FREE and easy to use, just click HERE!

  • Answers simple who, what, when, where, and why questions from a familiar book.

 

Sources:

1Maryland State Department of Education (2010). Healthy Beginnings: Supporting Development and Learning from Birth through Three Years of Age.

2Florida Partnership for School Readiness (2004). Florida Birth to Three Learning and Developmental Standards.

3Illinois State Board of Education. For Children Birth to Age Three: Illinois Early Learning Guidelines.

4Zero to Three. Does My Toddler Have a Short Attention Span Because She Won’t Sit Still for a Story? Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. Retrieved January 6, 2014, from http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/early-language-literacy/qa/does-my-toddler-have-a-short-attention-span.html.

Playful Bee

Education Team at Playful Bee
Playful Bee is an e-Preschool that delivers inquiry-based preschool learning from the classroom to your home. Our preschool curriculum was created by our talented team of rock star teachers. With years of hands-on preschool and Kindergarten teaching experience, they've developed a high-quality preschool experience that is convenient-to-use and easy-to-teach by you, grandparents, or your nanny at home.

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