Listen to the news together.
This works best when you incorporate it into your routine. For example, our car’s radio station is almost always tuned in to NPR. So when I’m dropping my daughter off at daycare or picking her up or running errands, we listen to the news or news-related discussions or at the very least, a traffic beat. My daughter has come to enjoy these sessions almost as much as I do and has begun following the words and phrases being spoken very closely. Every time she hears a phrase or interesting word she is familiar with, she exclaims to me, ” Mommy, he said (that-phrase-I-know)” Sometimes, she asks me questions. “Why did they say that?” “Who is that talking?” I think this is a great way for kids to pick up language, pronunciation and general knowledge, even if they’re just a year old. Maybe you could switch between music and news or something else. Mix it up. Or have a schedule. The point is to encourage your baby to listen to words being spoken by different people, maybe with different accents or even in different languages. Try it at home as you fix dinner or get kids ready for school. Or turn on the radio instead of the television on alternate nights.

Read out and explain signs. As you walk or drive to a destination, point out to signs in front of you – store names, road signs, route numbers, posters on walls, advertisement hoardings – anything in print.  Depending on their age, either explain what the signs mean or give them a chance to guess.  If you have older kids just learning to read or more than one child with you, this could even turn into a non-competitive game during road trips, shopping trips or neighborhood walks. This helps keep them engaged and may help delay the inevitable “Are we there yet?” (Be sure to keep your eye on the road, of course!)

Introduce your child to different languages. If you speak more than one language at home or if you have family members coming from different cultures, now is the best time to expose your baby to those. Show her books that are written in a different language. Play music from other cultures. Listen to plays or the news in a different language. Encourage grandparents, uncles and aunts on both sides of your family tree to speak in their native tongue around your baby. While too many fragments of languages may confuse a baby, if you consistently speak in two languages at home, then in all likelihood your baby will pick them up with equal fluency and ease.

Have conversations. Baby talk is fine. And comes naturally to most of us when we’re around babies. It seems to delight babies and is a great way to get their attention. But, don’t limit your interactions with your baby to baby talk. Especially as she grows older. When your baby is a few months old, engage her in real conversations every once in a while. You could ask her which dress she’d like to wear or how her day at daycare was in a normal tone. Tell her about your day or where you’re going, who you’ll be meeting, what you’ll do at the park today…just everyday stuff that you might say to another adult. Use the same language and tone as you would when talking to a friend.

Discuss books and stories. You don’t have to be reading to enjoy a favorite story. As you’re doing chores, driving, giving your baby a bath or going for a stroll in the park, recollect her favorite stories by narrating them yourself or by jogging her memory with questions or by making up songs. When you see a spotted dog on the street, you could exclaim, “Look there’s a dog that looks just like Spot in your book!” Or, if you happen to see a train, recollect a few lines or words from Freight Train or The Goodnight Train. Making associations with familiar objects helps reinforce concepts, words and stories.

However feels good to you and your baby. That’s how.

Because, when something feels right, it usually is likely to be. So, to start with, don’t worry too much about rules and how-to’s. Just pick up a book, cuddle up and start reading.

If you still think you could do with some pointers, here’s what I’d do:

1. Start with the cover. See if you can describe the pictures there to your baby. You could say something like,”Hmm..I think this story is about a naughty little mouse. What do you think?” This rouses your baby’s curiosity and anticipation. As your baby gets older, read out the title a couple of times. See if he can repeat it and guess what the book might be about.

2. Turn the pages slowly, deliberately. You could even get the baby involved by asking him to turn the pages. This teaches him how a book works.

3. Let baby explore. At first, baby may not seem to show much interest in the book’s contents. He may be eager to chew it instead. Or maybe he just wants to keep turning the pages or figure out how to hold it. Maybe he’ll turn away when you start reading. Or look at your face instead of the book. Whatever he does, he’s learning. So even if he isn’t listening or watching, keep reading. Which leads us to…

4. Make reading with your baby a regular activity. You could do it at around the same time every day or whenever it’s convenient. Reading regularly is important. Your baby begins to see reading as part of her everyday routine – just like meal time, bath time and play time.

5. Add some drama. Modulate your voice as you read aloud to your baby. Pause. Vary the tempo. Laugh and cry with the characters. Your baby is learning about sounds, words, expressions, feelings and a whole lot more as you read. It’s not just about making her smarter..although that may be a byproduct. So read happily, enthusiastically and with expression.
The only exception to this is of course, when it’s a bedtime story. You might want it keep it mellow if you want Jr to fall asleep anytime soon. Try reading in a soft voice, slowly..almost in a whisper.

6. Keep it interactive. Even when your baby is too little to respond, point to something and ask questions. You could say,” What color is the apple here?” Pause and then answer it yourself. As she grows, you’ll see how eager she is to point out and answer herself. When you read familiar books, give your child the chance to complete phrases, words and dialogues.

7. Have a blast. Reading to your baby could be one of the most enjoyable shared activities you will ever experience. It’s a great way to bond, to help your baby learn and in turn to learn more about her in the process. But it shouldn’t feel like a chore. If it does, try a different book, setting, pace or style of reading. It might take a while for you and your baby to get in-sync with your reading…but it’s sure to happen. And when it does, it’s unstoppable fun.

8. Take your baby to story-times and read-aloud events at the library and book stores. It’s never too early to start. Your baby will enjoy the change of scene and love watching other kids while being read to. And you could pick up some cool reading tips from pros.

Do you have any tips to share about reading to your baby? I’d love to hear them.