Babies & Books
from the beginning
Young Toddler (15 months to 2 years)
The Library: A Special Place for Baby and You
Older Toddler (2 to 3 Years)
Older toddlers are developing a sense of themselves, so books that show daily routines and how things work will help them better understand their place in the world around them.
Your older toddler will learn to:
- build a much larger listening and speaking vocabulary
- understand simple concepts such as "empty/full"
- count and name some colors
- recognize different shapes, sizes and textures
- take part in imaginary play
- enjoy humor and "silly" language
- start to develop a sense of right and wrong
- hold a book and read it aloud to self
- notice changes in the world around her/him, such as the seasons
What you can do with your older toddler:
- read simple counting and alphabet books
- take part in nonsense rhymes and word guessing games
- help your older toddler act out stories
- share books that have rhyming or repeating words and phrases
- enjoy simple nonfiction books, such as ones about animals or machines
- let your older toddler see you reading your own books for fun
- read books that deal with relationships between parent and child
Balloons
This is the way
(Make as if blowing up a balloon.)
We blow our balloon.
Blow! Blow! Blow!
This is the way
(Clap hands together for breaking of balloon.)
We break our balloon.
("How sad" face over broken balloon.)
Oh, oh, no!
Find this and other
action rhymes in The Eentsy, Weentsy Spider by Joanna Cole and
Stephanie Calmenson.