(Describer) A cartoon shows children relaxing and reading on a giant stack of books. A title: Early Readers: Prenatal and Infants. A couple walk hand-in-hand.
[upbeat music]
(narrator)
Pregnancy is an exciting time
for parents as they prepare
for the birth of their newborn.
Throughout pregnancy,
mothers are strongly encouraged
to maintain
a healthy lifestyle.
Healthy prenatal development
can also be supported
by creating a time
to read to your baby
before they are born.
An unborn baby can benefit
from being read to
as early as the 25th week
of pregnancy.
Babies read to in the womb
hear the rhythm
and patterns and language
and are given a sense
of security
while hearing
their parents' voices.
Any reading material
is appropriate,
as long as it is
enjoyable to read.
All family members
can play a part
in this relaxing experience
and start supporting a love
of reading even before birth.
(Describer) A toddler points to a page.
Newborns to six months.
(Describer) A newborn lies swaddled in a blanket.
A few days after birth
is the ideal time
to begin a reading routine
with your infant.
This activity can
turn into a special time
for babies and parents to bond.
At this stage, babies
are developing love and trust
with their caretakers.
The way you cuddle, hold,
and play with your baby
are the building blocks
for how your infant
interacts with others.
As you read, your baby
is soothed by a familiar voice
while hearing the rhythm and
patterns of spoken language.
There is also a link between
how many words
a baby hears each day
and their language development.
As your baby grows,
they will begin turning
their head towards your voice
and look at the book
as you turn the pages.
(Describer) Mother and son share a pop-up book.
The best type of books
to read to an infant
have very little text,
and bold pictures of objects.
Up until six months of age,
an infant's vision
is still developing,
so pictures
with lots of contrast
are easier
for a small child to see.
Throughout the day,
you can talk to your baby
about everything you are doing.
While diapering a newborn,
explain each step.
For example,
"I think you have a wet diaper.
"You need changed.
Let's go get you a dry diaper."
These interactions will help
the child feel secure
and expose them to words
and the structure of language.
(Describer) Wrapping an infant in a blanket. Words appear.
6 to 12 months.
During the first six months
of development,
your baby has begun
to explore their world.
At this stage,
babies are sitting up, moving,
handling objects,
learning words,
expressing emotion,
and playing simple games.
While reading to your child,
point to words
and name pictures in the book
to expand their vocabulary.
Reading at this age helps model
early reading behaviors
like book handling
and turning pages.
(Describer) A young infant grabs a thick page and turns it.
Interactive books that have
flaps, mirrors, or textures
on the pages help get
your baby's attention.
Babies approaching
12 months of age
will start naming
familiar objects.
Infants may also chew
on board books
and eventually hold the book
and turn the pages
on their own.
(Describer) The infant closes the book. His mother smiles.
All done.
[bright music]
(Describer) Logos appear: Funding provided by Ohio Broadcast Educational Media Commission, in partnership with Ohio Department of Education. WOUB Public Media. Copyright 2019. Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Accessibility provided by the
U.S. Department of Education.
