Reading is paying off!

At Maggie's 1 week appointment our doctor (whom we absolutely love over at Tidewater Pediatrics) gave us a book to read to Maggie. Not gonna lie, I kind of smirked. Umm...she is 1 week old, she doesn't even know how to blink let alone understand a book. From then on out, every milestone appointment Maggie went to, her doctor gave us a new book. And even though I thought it was a bit silly, my husband and I did read to Maggie every night, and still do for that matter.

At Maggie's 12 month appointment, along with a new book, her doctor gave us some good tips. She told us to read to her every day and to read the same few books to her for recognition. So we have been reading her a barn animal book that is textile ... like fur on the chick, and a sponge for the pigs nose. I was getting really sick of this book when I noticed that Maggie started picking that book up right away when we would sit down to rock. I thought that was really neat. Then she started saying "woof, woof" when we would get to the puppy page. And when we get to the pig page it tells her to "touch her nose to the pig's nose" and after awhile she started doing it before I would even read it. I realized that she was recognizing the pages!

Of course, I automatically thought she was simply brilliant. But once I came back from my "Mommy Cloud 9" I realized that Maggie's doctor was 100% correct. She recognized the book because we read it to her over and over again. And she started saying words from the book like "woof, woof." She really learned from this book and I am excited to share with you that your child can too. Reading is so important for your child. There are lots of ways you can read to your child even in your busy, busy day, but the best time for us has been in the evenings. Every evening we have the same routine- milk, book, rock for one lullaby song, bed. And the "book" part is paying off!

I suggest reading to your child at least once a day. Watch how excited your child gets about reading once they find how fun it can be. Another fun way to read to your child is by taking him or her to the library. Every library in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach has a kids area where your child can play, and then pick out a few books together to either read there or check out and take home. Also, getting your child involved in a storytime library class is a great way to get him or her excited about reading. Maggie loves her "Just One's" storytime class. She loves dancing, singing, and reading! Here are a few pictures of her at her fun class!

Here are a few fun books that Maggie and I love reading:

1. Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
3. Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings by Matthew Van Fleet
4. Five Little Monkeys by Eileen Christflow
5. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
6. The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
7. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
8. Where is Baby's Belly Button? by Karen Katz
9. Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton
10. Counting Kisses by Karen Katz

Have fun reading! :)

Sincerely,