Why Should I Read to My Baby?

Reading to a baby might seem unnecessary, but they are listening in ways that go beyond words. Regularly reading to your infant provides a foundation for language development and learning skills as they grow up.  

There are many benefits of reading to your baby and the Library is here to support your family on your reading journey. Here are just a few of our favourite reasons to get started.  

Studies show that parents who read one picture book with their children every day help their children hear around 78,000 words each year. From ages 0 – 5, a child in a literacy-rich household hears 1.4 million more words during storybook reading than children who are never read to.*  

This means that when you start regularly reading to your children when they are babies, you will have a long-term impact on their literacy, vocabulary, and reading comprehension skills. 

There’s a lot that babies take in every day – exploring new textures, sights, and sounds all contribute to early development.  

Board books are an excellent way to fully engage the senses. The images, feel of the pages, and simple storytelling will help them learn and grow. The sturdy design of a board book teaches infants and toddlers how books work and even help with their motor control.