Toddlers may not be able to follow along in a book when you read to them, but they are reaping many benefits that prepare them for the years ahead. Even when toddlers are unable to sit still for a story, they are gaining language skills and an appreciation of storytelling, as well as enjoying their time with you. Don't set expectations for reading time with your child or make it too structured because learning comes naturally at this age.
Vocabulary
Babies learn words before they can vocalize them, and, by the time they are toddlers, they can string words together in simple sentences. Reading to your child expands her vocabulary by introducing new words. In an article for Beaumont Health System, Dr. Ruth Anan points out that 2-year-old toddlers who are read to regularly have a larger vocabulary than toddlers who don't have that activity. Toddlers learn through repetition and the association of an object with a word, so take the time to point out pictures and words in books and don't worry about reading a story from beginning to end.
Language Skills
Toddlers learn language by listening. Reading daily to your child exposes him to new language concepts and expands his ability to form sentences. Reading stories helps improve memory, which is associated with language development. Phonemic awareness is the ability to recognize all of the sounds that go into speech, and reading to your toddler further develops that awareness, which starts in infancy.
Reading Skills
Going through simple picture books with your toddler is a good opportunity to introduce the concepts of letters and the alphabet, which are the foundation of reading skills. Just by reading to your child from a book, she will come to understand what written words are and how they are used. Story time with you reinforces the belief that reading is a good thing. Anan notes that children who are good readers do well in school later on.
Knowledge
Reading to your child builds knowledge of the world around him. Books with bright pictures, fun pop-ups and interesting textures stimulate the curiosity and imagination of children. Storytelling can introduce new concepts, ideas and associations. Reading to your child also means he is learning about how books work before he can even read the words on the pages. Spending time with you is important to toddlers, and, when you use some of that time to read, your child learns that reading is fun and pleasurable.
