When do toddlers start paying attention when your reading to them?

I Try to read picture books to Peyton and Eli and they will sit for maybe 1 page and then there off doing something else. Is there a trick to getting them interested in seeing the pictures in books. My son Trent loved books since he was a baby and loves to read now and I want to get the twins interested in books as well.

 

18 months to 2 years before my oldest did. He would mostly just play with the pages of the books.

 

I might be wrong, but I think it just depends on the temperment of the child if they will sit still long enough to pay attention. I know I started with my two pretty early and Sy will bring the books to me. Lately though she will stop half way through and get up to do something else. Eve really doesn't care and the only time she will pay attention to the bedtime story. That's only because we used to sit them in our laps while they drank a bottle and read to them. Theren't not long books either. I read Chicka Chicka, Pajama Time and Goodnight Moon are some of the ones with words. They all kinda have a rhyme to them. I wouldn't give up. Maybe read to them while in their highchairs after they're finishing eating. They can't go anywhere and maybe you'll be able to grab their attention. Another suggestion is I use alot of silly voices when I read. That might keep their attention better. Hope you have some luck with them.

 

It depends on the temperament, I believe, but also appropriate book selection. Our kids would not sit still for stories or books with illustrations. Instead, we opted for lots of board books with large, colorful photographs (Priddy Books has the best, IMO). This way, you are still "reading" and helping to develop their vocabulary. We still use these books, although not as much. Now, in the last two months or so, they have finally wanted to sit and listen to an entire story.

 

Do you have a local library where you can borrow books? You could try a bunch and find something your twins like. My kids have always loved books, we started reading to them in the beginning.

One series that I recommend is the "That's not my" There are textures to feel. And a mouse on every page to look for.

Another option: what are your kids interested in right now? My kids are obsessed with ducks. So they especially like books with ducks in them.

 

Mine pay attention sometimes but sometimes they are to antsy. We really like the "Twins" books(ex: Twins at the park, twins take a bath, twins have a fight).

 

I agree that it is temperment. Mine have pretty much paid attention to my reading from day one. They started to choose what books they wanted when they were about 18 months old (there was a time last summer when I was reading Chicka Chicka Boom Boom about 6 or 7 times a night).

 

I would say for the last 2 months or so we finally hit the point where they will sit and pay attention to an entire book when I read it to them. I do also think tempermant plays a big part and there are still some days they just don't want to sit and pay attention!

 

Mine would listen to me read a story if they were falling asleep in their cribs but at that age they just weren't capable of paying attention to a full story on my lap. I would say that by 1-1/2 or almost two they liked sitting down and being read to. But, we always kept books accessible to them. We'd keep board books everywhere so they could pick them up and if we were able to read a page or two that's all we did.

 

I agree with all the PP -- a lot of it is just temperament and age. Mine have prettymuch always loved reading books, but they did hit a phase, can't remember exactly when, I think maybe 13-14 months, when they just wouldn't sit still to read a book. I just continued to make the books available to them and would encourage them to read with me. If we only read one page and then they wanted to jump up and do something else, no problem! I didn't try to force them to read if they weren't interested in it. I think keeping it a fun experience is important. Also, I let them set the pace. If they were done with that page, I let them turn it, whether or not I had finished reading all the words or not.

I also agree with Kate that the Priddy picture books are great! My girls still love those, but they went through a big phase where they were REALLY into them. They were especially into them around 18-22 months, when their language was exploding -- definitely helped them massively expand their vocabulary. Also books with flaps, textures, etc., are great for keeping their interest.

But honestly, my girls have pretty much always loved books! Natalie especially, but both of them. Some days they would be perfectly content to sit in my lap and read every book on the shelf over and over again.