5 Ways Reading Supports Babies’ Language Development & Social-Emotional Learning
This post was originally written for and published on
the Slumberkins blog.
You may have heard that it’s important to read with your baby from an early age, but have you ever wondered why? Or if it’s really doing anything? If you have, we get it! Some babies are wiggly and just want to be on the go. Other babies just want to chew on the books! And, some parents feel a little silly reading when their babies don’t fully understand the stories yet.
But, as speech-language pathologists and moms ourselves, we can promise that every time you open up a book, you’re giving your baby a major gift! Reading with you helps your baby make so many valuable connections that will serve them throughout their lives. And, as their parent, you’ll benefit so much from the experience, too. If you haven’t made reading a part of your daily routine yet, this post will teach you why it’s worth doing, and how to make reading simple, doable, and fun!
Meet Your Speech Therapists
Hi! We’re Katie and Carly, the faces behind Wee Talkers. We’re pediatric speech therapists with over 25 years of combined experience, but first and foremost, we’re parents—just like you. Between us, we have six kids, and they all have unique needs, so we’re in it with you! Our goal is to help you support your child at home because you’re the very best person for the job.
The Speech, Language & Social-Emotional Benefits of Reading With Your Baby
Reading with your child provides them with so many developmental benefits. As speech-language pathologists, we often talk about all of the language and literacy benefits of reading to your baby (like how it teaches new words and concepts that help children communicate). However, the social-emotional benefits (like learning to understand themselves, their world, and those around them) are incredibly important, too.
Here are five of the most impactful ways that reading with your baby supports their speech, language, and social-emotional development:
#1 Reading Fosters Connection & Bonding
At its very foundation, communication is a shared connection between two people. When you communicate with someone, in any situation, a message is always being exchanged. That exchange requires a back-and-forth interaction that begins to form between you and your baby from the time they're first born.
In the beginning, that reciprocity happens when you respond to their coos and eye gazes. Over time, it builds up as they develop more communication skills—like using gestures and sounds to get your attention. And eventually, it develops into the typical back-and-forth, responsive interaction that we think of when we imagine talking to or signing with another person. Because communication like this is developmental, meaning it builds over time, the early interactions you have with your baby, through connection-driven activities like talking, singing, and reading, are absolutely essential.
And, bonus! Making a reading ritual also helps foster a sense of predictability and routine, which babies thrive on.
#2 Reading Exposes Your Baby to Emotion & Feeling Words
Long before your child will ever communicate their emotions and feelings to you, you can help them start to understand their emotional experiences, by exposing them to emotion and feeling words. Simple activities like naming emotions and talking about feelings both in the moment (like when they’re experiencing a big feeling) and proactively (when you read with your baby) go a very long way. We love how Slumberkins books and products make this so easy and doable for parents!
#3 Reading Helps Build Their Understanding of the World
Typically, when we think of language, we think of talking and communicating. But language is actually broken down into two distinct skill sets: receptive and expressive language.
Expressive Language: The ability to express wants and needs and share ideas through verbal or nonverbal communication.
Receptive Language: The ability to understand and comprehend language.
Before a child will begin to speak, they first need to build up those receptive language skills—their comprehension of language and the world around them. This happens from day one with your baby, throughout their first year of life, and beyond, as they build up experiences of talking, reading, singing, and interacting with you. Receptive language skills aren't always as obvious as skills such as verbal communication. But, they are absolutely crucial to your child's language development. So be assured that even if they aren't talking about the things they see on the page, they are making essential connections.
#4 Reading Promotes Early Literacy & School Preparation
Just like speech and language, reading is developmental. There are tons of little mini-skills that support your child’s ability to learn to read. These skills (and many others!) start to develop during your child’s first year of life. By reading with your baby, you're helping them learn early, essential pre-literacy skills, like:
Taking in a bright, simple illustration
Holding a book
Attempting to turn pages
Sharing books with adults as a routine part of life
Showing interest in familiar vocabulary
Reading with your baby also fosters a love of books that will serve them well into adulthood. Sitting down, reading, and connecting together gives our children positive memories of reading and happy associations with books, which lays the groundwork for a lifelong love of reading that will set them up really well for school and beyond!
#5 Reading Boosts Your Baby’s Vocabulary
When it comes to development, infancy is an incredible and critical period of time. From birth to three years, your child’s brain is growing more rapidly than it ever will again! And your input (think reading, talking, singing, and playing together) is invaluable—kind of like nutrition for the brain!
As parents, one of the things we want to be intentional about during this critical period is introducing our babies to a variety of words and concepts, because it helps support their brain development. Thankfully, reading makes this easy! Books open up entirely new worlds, so by reading to your baby, you’re exposing them to so many more words than they would typically hear on a regular day at home.
Making Reading Part Of Your Baby’s Routine
If you haven’t yet, we highly recommend including reading in your baby’s day-to-day. The developmental benefits of reading to your baby are so powerful, and taking the time to connect, interact, and build your loving relationship is unlike anything else.
That said, we know it can be hard to read with a wiggly, curious baby! So we’ll leave you with a few simple tips that make reading fun by keeping babies engaged longer.
Read Face-To-Face
We love a snuggly lap reading session, but try reading face-to-face sometimes, too. This way, your baby sees your facial expressions, gestures, and movements instead of just hearing your voice.
Tip: Try this out during tummy time, in the bath, or even when they’re in their highchair!
Be Animated
Using an enthusiastic, animated tone of voice will increase your baby’s interest and keep them engaged. (Feel a bit silly doing this? We get it! Check out this IG reel on why you never have to apologize for using your mom voice—or any voice, really!) Being animated really helps the words come to life!
Follow Your Baby’s Lead
It’s okay if your baby is ready to move on from a book quickly or if they want to stay on one specific page the majority of the time. Go with the flow and talk about whatever they seem interested in. The “proper” book reading, from cover to cover, will come in time.
Make Books Accessible
Crawling babies are always eager to empty baskets or shelves, so why not load yours up with books? This way, books are available all day, instead of just at bedtime. This is where we give you permission to NOT read all the words on the page! It’s okay to think of books like one of your child’s toys, instead of a formal, sit-down activity.
Free Resources Just For You!
If you like learning about your baby’s speech and language development, we have a free guide we know you’ll love! Our Baby Bundle gives you everything you need to know, do, and watch for communication-wise from birth to 12 months. It includes:
Baby Language Milestones Checklist
Tips for Encouraging Language Development
Baby Song Video (for you to try with your baby!)