Tips to choose books for the babies, toddlers and nursery  

by Ferdinand L. Budiyasa

Tips to choose books for the babies, toddlers and nursery

Reading a book for your babies is not only pleasurable, but it also stimulates their verbal ability, promotes their vocabulary and memory, and expands the emotional parent-baby relationship. When these conditions are met, the children will love to read and they will start the habit of reading independently. Parents are encouraged to provide a range of safe, attractive, durable books for the children to pick. Reading books stimulates the brain growth.

Babies and toddlers like to see colorful, big pictures and to hear the sound related to the picture. They also like to touch and put the book in their mouth. They like to turn page by themselves. They like to bring the books anywhere they want to. They are listeners and like to be read the same books over and over again. But their vocabularies are limited, they are able to speak a few words, their attention span is short and they haven’t got the ability to see the 2-dimension shape, as they use to see the 3-dimension thing that surrounds them.

Considering the condition above, here are some tips to choose the appropriate books for babies and toddler;

Material: • Indestructible material: board books and cloth books • Hard cover • Easy to clean/wipe: non-toxic paint vinyl books • Easy to turn the page and light weight (if the toddler likes “to read� by him/herself) • Large size page (A-3 size) although slight heavy for toddler (if the toddler enjoys being read by mom/dad) • Rounded corner page

Content: • Bright, colorful pictures of simple objects that are familiar to them • Wordless or more pictures than text • Simple texts and good rhymes (it could include one picture with one or two words only in a page) • Preferably able to generate some related sounds • Preferably have the texture (rough, smooth, furry) to touch • Number of pages: 5 to 10

Nursery (children of 3 - 4 years old) has the ability to communicate through complete simple sentences. Their vocabularies are growing. They like to make their own story and they enjoy “writing or drawing� something on the page. They enjoy being read a simple story. They are very curious about anything. They like to explore and ask anything. Although they cannot read independently, but they can turn page by themselves as their fine motor skill is improving a lot. They start to think critically and to feel being able to do anything like adult. They also like to play the socio-dramatic activity with the friends (pretend to be somebody).They start to show and tell and like to build the friendship. Usually they have their favorite character and toys. They are able to solve simple problem and to select the books to read. Parents are encouraged to support them through facilitating them and providing the books to read and guiding them should they have any question or misunderstanding.

Considering the condition above, here are some tips to choose the appropriate books for nursery.

Material: • Books that are constructive fun with toy-like that may pop up, move, or provide other astonishments • Preferably the hard cover • Light weight and easy to carry-on or to keep in their bags • Another alternative: E-read books with Mp3 • Possibility to write and wipe

Content: • Simple storyline, slightly complex texts with good rhythm and effective word repetition • Colorful picture in every page • Depicting familiar objects and experiences for this age of group • Stimulating the imagination and creative thinking • Including the moral/character message • Preferably the interactive way • No violence, sex and bad behavior

Some publishers indicate the level or grade for the age group. It is encouraged to choose a book that is most suitable for the age level of your child, but it is not a problem to choose a book that is suggested for older child, you can read it to him now and later he can read it independently. You can also choose picture books with interesting story in beautiful illustration. Such books offer the child an aesthetic experience to enjoy over and over again.

We can find easily some “classic� children books that interest everyone in the family to read aloud together. Some children find a contemporary book more appealing than a classic one. Let your child select the books that will generate reading enjoyment.

You can also make your own book assisted by your child. Your child can draw the pages and you can write the story that your child tell you about his/her drawing. Your child also can write some alphabets or simple words. This activity will promote the language skill, writing skill, reading skill, creativity and self-esteem. Your child starts to produce his/her first master art that he/she can be proud of.

To find a good book that is appropriate for your child, you can ask friend, teacher, and librarian, visit the book store or visit the web site. You don’t have to buy the expensive books or the most lavish ones. What you need to do is to take a look at the book, browsing the pages to find out whether the book is well written and designed. Buying books is a good investment.

Author: Ferdinand L. Budiyasa

About the Author

He has been a Center Director of International Preschool and Kindergarten (Tutor Time) in Jakarta, Indonesia for more than 6 years.

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