Silly Question

It seems like this should be common sense and it would be if I were mom to a single child. However, I'm fortunate enough to have twins and I don't know how to read to them and have them pay any kind of attention. They are always interested in something more active. I tried reading to them from a chair outside their cribs but they just babble and carry-on.

With one, I would sit in the rocker, put he/she on my lap and read. With two....I'm absolutely clueless! I am a first time mom so please bare with my silly questions...

Thanks!

 

I can't read with them on my lap, they grab pages and fidget. I sit on the floor with my legs splayed so they can crawl in and out and just read... sometimes they pay attention, sometimes not!

 

They are either both on my lap or they are sitting beside me. Or one is sitting and the other is walking around, they don't sit too well for stories yet, but they love looking at books themselves.

 

I do as the pp mentioned. I sit with my legs pretzel crossed and each get a leg. Sometimes they listen, sometimes not...I've noticed that they also love to read by themselves, so I try and sneak up behind them and read a few pages to them, if they'll let me. when they aren't in the mood to sit and read, I just read a book to them and as they pass by me I'll show them the picture.

 

Just read aloud on the floor while they play. If they see that you're interested in books, then they will start to take an interest as well. Do not expect them to sit still, especially if you've just recently introduced books. At this age they're also more interested in trying out their new walking skills, so don't be concerned if they don't want to stay in one spot very long.

Books for this age group aren't super stimulating for us, and it can be frustrating to read this boring book when no one's listening. But the secret is -- they are listening, even if they don't show you right away!

You can grab their attention by using silly voices, making funny faces, holding the book up to show them pictures of the duck, frog, whatever. You don't have to stick to the text, either. If there's a picture of a frog, ask them what sound a frog makes, then supply the answer with a nice loud RIBBIT!! Get up and hop like a frog. Stick out your tongue and pretend to catch flies! What color is a frog? What else in the room is green? Sing "Jeremiah Was a Bull Frog." Point out that frog rhymes with dog. But do frogs have tails? No -- that would be silly!!! etc....

Can you tell I love reading to my kids?! Both I and DH are bookworms (our spare "bedroom" has been converted to a library with a futon), and our girls love to read too. We have two baskets of kids books next to a cozy kid chair and they'll independently "read" there, on the couch, or bring us a pile of books to read to them.

Use the book as a jumping off point to play and talk with your kids, and soon they'll be bringing books to you!

Good luck!!

 

At that age, I would read to one at a time. Sometimes the other one would pause in her activities to listen too. If both wanted to be on my lap, I'd try to manage that, but usually one would just go about her business until it was her turn to be read to.

We started reading to them practically at birth, so they were well used to the routine by the time they were toddlers. But if you're starting now, I'd say just sit down and start reading. Sometimes they'll come sit down, sometimes they won't, but they'll almost always be listening (even if you can't tell). That's basically what they do at daycare, since one teacher can't possibly hold 5 kids on her lap all at once.

As PP said, we also don't necessarily stick to the words that are in the book (or even really read them at all). The whole point is to get them interested and thinking that books are fun.

 

I read to the girls one at a time, and my trick is to catch them when they aren't in full play mode. Usually when they first get up from a nap is the best time for us.

 

I sit on the floor and either one is on my lap and one is next to me,or they both sit on a leg.
DS is less interested so when he does come by, I try to cuddle and read with him. DD is a lap hog so I have been teaching her turns and she will get a new book while I read to DS.

 

mine bring the books to me and they will each sit on a leg. it depends on their mood. sometimes they bring the book to me, look at one page and then walk away to do something else. they like to flip the pages and point to things. i usually make up a story about each page that is short..they don't want to stay on one page too long.

as they get older, they will pay more attention.

 

I either read to them in our recliner both on lap or on the floor legs crossed one on each leg. I could never get away with reading to one without the other. I also have two baskets of books sitting next to their sofas and they "read" independently often. Both my girls LOVE to read, I'd say 80% of the day consists of books.

 

I sit on the floor with the book facing them, let them turn the pages and pick out one thing to mention on each page. Since they don't sit for long and want to turn pages fast, this is how I "read" to them...Elmo...ducky...Ernie...bathtime... etc.

The exception is bedtime. After brushing their teeth, I sit them on the floor in front of me and hand them their toothbrushes. They munch on them as I read a book or two and then when I'm done I say "allll done" and they hand me their brushes and head to their cribs (thanks Nicole for this!!).

 

they don't need to sit and look at the book to benefit from being read to. they will hear the words, the speech patterns, see how you turn the pages, etc. even if they are also busy playing. read read read!! :winking0009:

 

I've read to mine in many different situations . . .

1. In the bathtub with tub books.
2. In their high chairs while they are snacking.
3. Sitting on my lap, beside me, crawling all over the place.

Both of mine love books . . . Leah loves to read them and Wes loves to take them away. I agree with pp . . . just read!

 

I just sit both girls down facing me on the floor while I read. They have loved books from the moment I introduced them. I guess they take after their parents, lol. We both love to read. I'll read 8 or 10 books in a row. They pay rapt attention unless I pick a too long or wordy book. They usually start crying when I finish, because they want to read more. It's pretty cute.

 

My boys LOVE books and I keep a bin of board books in our family room for them (usually resulting in books all over the room!). Often during the day they will go through the bin and flip through books them selves or bring me books to read. Generally, they aren't attentive enough to actually read the story and want to quickly turn the pages themselves, so the we "read" the books is me pointing at the pictures and identifying what it is ("look at the black and white cow, the cow says moo!" or "the little monkey is swinging from the big tree"). I typically use some really enthusiastic tone and they get excited and oohh and aahh. Then, if its a book that we've read a lot, I'll ask them "show mommy the doggie, the bird, etc". After enough repitition, they start to learn to identify things in books. Anyway, that works for us!

 

Thank you all for the wonderful ideas! I am going to start reading to my kids a lot more and I'm going to put a basket of their books in our family room (since this is where we spend most of our time).

I made the mistake of not reading to them on a regular basis thus far so I'll probably have to ease into this as my boys are major busy bodies but I really want them to love reading and books!

Thanks again!