Reading activities: children 2-4 years

Reading: why it’s good for children ages 2-4

Reading and storytelling help your child’s development in many ways. These activities promote brain development and imagination, teach your child about language and emotions, and lay the foundations for literacy. Reading is also a great way for you to  share time together. 

What you need for reading with your child

Reading with your child is all about having fun with books and spending special time together. All you need is a picture book that you and your child can enjoy together. You don’t need to buy lots of books.  If a local library is open, borrow books there.  Or swap with friends and other family.

Your child might enjoy:

• books that have good rhyme, rhythm and repetition
• books about a favourite topic, like cars, fairies, insects or dinosaurs (your child may have other interests)
• pop-up, alphabet, shape, size and counting books
• books that use humour and have a sense of fun – for example, a character who uses a funny word, or who is silly or even ‘naughty’.

How to enjoy reading and book time with your child

Here’s how you and your child can make the most of book time:

• Help your child choose a book. It’s OK if he chooses the same one over and over. If it’s one you haven’t read together before, look at the cover and ask him what he thinks it might be about.
• Ask your child to hold the book and turn the pages.
• Read the story together.
• Vary the pace of your reading, as well as how loud you read. Changing your voice and expression for different characters can also be fun.
• Chant or sing repetitive phrases and words together.
• Point to things in the pictures and name them, or ask your child to name them--"Oh, what's this animal?  Your grandmother has one!" Talk about the pictures and ask your child questions – for example, ‘What do you think happens next?’ or ‘Why is the baby happy?’  This is just for fun, not a test!

Some general tips for reading with your child

• Make a routine, and try to share at least one book every day.
• Be guided by your child’s interest. If your child wants to spend more time reading, that’s great. And if she sometimes wants only one book or story, that’s OK too.
• Turn off the TV or radio so your child can focus.
• Hold your child close or on your knee while you read so he can see your face and the book.
• Use other kinds of books if you cannot get to a library or buy new books.  For example, you can make a book with pictures cut from a magazine or drawn simply, adding words that tell the story.  Or invite your child to tell you a story as you write it down.  You could start by giving the first sentence:  "One day, X went for a walk with her mother.  First she saw . . ." (child fills in).