Developing a Taste for Literature

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

21 Oct 2006 03:04 PM

There's nothing like handing a book to a toddler and watching them literally tear through the pages to bring tears to the eyes. Common sense says that if you provide your toddler with something that makes a great sound like tearing paper - well, that's exactly what they are going to do. But don't despair, you can still engage your toddler with books galore - you just have to approach it from their level.

Board Books Are Best

Cardboard or board books are virtually indestructible. They'll withstand juice being spilled on them, teeth marks being sunk into them and the casual bashing about that the toddler delivers. They are also a lot easier on tiny fingers for learning to turn 'pages' without fear of paper cuts or other damage to them. The great part about board books? They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. You can find Dora board books, Clifford board books, shapes board books and even numbers, letters or board books with touchy feely parts.

What About Our Books?

For the time being, don't let your toddler play with your books. Put them up high or in another room where they can't reach them. Don't give them magazines that they can shred at will, because this sets a bad precedent not to mention the fact that some magazines have toxic print. Oh and those great sheets that come out of the copier or printer? Did you know a lot of toner has mercury in it?

Yes, mercury - as in mercury poisoning. This is not something we want our little ones to be ingesting in any form. So rather than letting them shred paper at will or shred up old paper that we don't care about - take paper, magazines and newspaper out of the equation.

Use the board books to teach them respect for their books. When they are getting destructive, don't yell at them. Just tell them no no, we don't treat books like that. Here, sit with Mommy or Daddy and let me show you how we treat books. It will take time and it will take patience, but by the time they are old enough to begin grasping reading - you should have coaxed them into a certain amount of respect for books - which means they can handle the pages of a paper book then.

How did you develop your toddler's taste for literature?

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Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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