Reading to your baby

Daily reading — even 5 minutes — is one of the highest-return activities you can do. The rhythm of language, page turning, and shared attention builds literacy skills years before letters are learned. Studies show measurable vocabulary differences by age 3 based on early reading. Board books with high-contrast illustrations, simple text, and tactile elements (flaps, textures, mirrors) are perfect at this age. Rereading the same book on repeat is developmental gold — baby is picking up new details each pass. Skip pages, shorten long text, or improvise entirely — babies aren't grading you. Make reading part of the bedtime routine. Two books after bath and pajamas is enough. Let baby hold the book, mouth the corners, and turn pages out of order — that's part of the learning.