How early should I start reading to my child?

Answer 1

Right away.

Answer 2

NOW. It is never too early to read to a child. I have been reading to my son since they day he came home from the hospital at 19 hours old. I read on average 4 books a day. He has his favorites that sometimes get read MANY MANY times a day. The earlier you read to them, the more likely they are to have an interest in books rather than television. My son is 27 months old, and still to this day does not watch cartoons, at least not a full one. He may watch for a few minutes if a song catches his attention, but other than that, he has very little interest in television.

Answer 3

As soon as they or born (some may even say sooner).

There was a NY Times magazine article not too long ago about the differences in education/intelligence between children raised by professional parents and those raised by blue-collar parents and they found a strong correlation between the number of words a child was exposed to (vocabulary of the parent, and the amount of time the parent(s) spent talking to the child even when the child didn't understand the words) and the size of their vocabulary when they started school.

Other studies have noted strong correlations between a child's vocabulary and how well they eventually perform in school and on intelligence tests (even in subjects not directly related to language.) I suppose this only makes sense, since a larger vocabulary is going to make communication between the child and their teacher much much easier.

(I'd always wondered why my brother and I had been so successful when we had come from somewhat average stock, but this explains it since my mother is a complete chatterbox and my grandfather read the newspaper to both me and my brother every morning from about the time we could keep our eyes open,)

Answer 4

It is never to early to start reading to your child. When children see you reading or reading to them, they see that books are important and they will enjoy reading. It is good together time when reading books together also. I love reading to my four year old, because she is starting to recognize some of the words. She is wanting to read along with me.

Answer 5

read to them early, read to them often, and read out loud. It is never to early to start reading to your baby. The sooner you start the better off they will be. Read what ever you want, it doesn't have to be kid books, they just like the sound of your voice. It helps your childs brain pathways develop if they are talked to and read to.

Answer 6

All parenting books say that its never too early to read to your child. That even from birth it is a good thing.

Answer 7

My wife read good books when she was pregnant. She read them when my little girl was born, Babys love to hear parents voice and attention. They pick up little things from whatever you read them. When you read, place your finger on the word and they will start to comprehend what you are doing. They will become faster reading children and hopefully smarter. At what age you ask ? As soon as you can. They will associate your voice with quality time and love.

Answer 8

I started when my daughter was in the womb. She started reading on her own at 2 1/2

Answer 9

well, I have two girls, they're 6 years old and 3 years old. I started reading to them when i was four months pregnant with them, reading to your child in the early age is the best, specially when they are new borns, that's how I started reading to my two girls. It worked for me, maybe it'll work for you, maybe you can try it.

Answer 10

It's never too early to start! We started reading to our daughter at about 2 months. She didn't know what was going on, but she liked to hear our voices and especially liked "sing-songy" books like Goodnight Moon and Everywhere Babies.

Answer 11

Today. Children benefit from reading as soon as they are born because when they are raised thinking reading is something we do everyday they will be good at it and enjoy it later in life. Pick up a book tomorrow night before bed and read it with your little one! I'm sure they will love it! it's also very rewarding to see your toddler "reading" to hinself when he doesn't know you are looking.