Interactive Reading with Your 1-Year-Old

Samantha Engel – Master of Arts in Teaching, Fairleigh Dickinson University

Even though it will be a few years before your child can start reading on their own, having your 1-year-old spend time with books is integral to their future literacy. By reading with your child regularly (we recommend daily) you will help them develop pre-literacy skills such as print awareness, phonemic awareness, and print motivation. Furthermore, it's fantastic for parent-child bonding and will help progress language development! When reading to your little one, try out a few tips and tricks to make the experience interactive:

Talk about the illustrations - Your child is absorbing all parts of the reading experience and is slowly making meaning out of what is being said. By pointing out aspects of the illustrations and talking about it, you are clarifying words for your child and helping them make connections. You can say things like, "Do you see the brown dog? What is that dog doing? He's chasing the ball!"
Use animated voices - Kids love it when adults use lots of expression when they read. Put on voices for the different characters and be sure to use emotion when the story calls for it. Doing so makes the whole reading experience more enjoyable and helps your child distinguish dialogue between characters.
Use facial expressions - Using facial expressions that match what's going on in the story not only makes the entire experience more engaging, but also helps your 1-year-old learn to identify emotions. Ask them to join you in making faces! Say things like, "The little bird is sad that he can't find his mother. Can you make a sad face, too?"
Let your child turn the pages - Let your child take an active part in the reading process by allowing them to turn the pages of the story if they're showing an interest in doing so. This will make them feel like they are contributing to the experience and help them to develop print awareness.
Cuddle up - Interactive reading includes being physically close and interacting with the book together. Cozy up in a chair with your little one on your lap or snuggle up next to each other on the sofa. Your child will enjoy bonding with Mommy or Daddy and forever associate reading with positive feelings.
Ask them questions - In line with talking about the illustrations, ask your 1-year-old questions about what they see or hear in the story. Ask them to point out characters by saying things like, "Who is happy right now?" or ask them yes or no questions like, "Do you see the boy playing with cars? Do you like playing with cars? Yes, I know you do!" If there are words your child knows and you come across those pictures in the book, ask them to identify it by saying, "What's that?" Be sure to shower them with plenty of praise when they get it right! This will encourage language development.

Try Storypod

📦 Free Shipping

The award-winning audio system that engages kids with multisensory stories, music and skill-building.

Learn More

Keep reading

Breaking the Screen Habit: The Transformative Potential of Audio Learning for Kids

In a world dominated by screens and digital devices, it's becoming increasingly challenging for parents to navigate the best educational experiences for their children, especially those in the critical developmental stages of ages 1-6. While technology undoubtedly offers many benefits, there's growing concern about the potential negative impacts of excessive screen time on young minds. This concern has sparked a resurgence in the popularity of screen-free learning approaches, with a particular focus on the power of audio learning.
read more
7 Summertime Adventures and Activities for Kids and Families to Enjoy

It’s summertime! With your little ones out of school for the season, keeping them entertained and learning for months on end may seem like a daunting task. Here at Storypod, we understand. As financial stressors continue to be felt by families across the globe and many exhausted parents are struggling to navigate year 3 of the pandemic, we’re here to shine the light on some clever, budget-friendly, and easy adventures and activities!
read more
Milestones of Language Development in the First Two Years

The early years of your child’s life are an integral time for speech and language development. Like crawling before you walk, speech requires a combination of milestones that eventually build up to understandable language. The first two years are an exciting time in which your little one will go from babbling to speaking 2-3 word phrases.
read more
Balance Your Own Screen Time to Better Balance Your Child’s

We all want the best for our kids. We want them to learn well, to be healthy, and to develop a strong sense of wellbeing that will guide them throughout their lives. It can be easy to forget how observant children are, after all: Everything is brand new to them. They are taking it all in and processing information about what shapes their world.
read more
Screenless Parenting: How To Entertain & Educate Your Kids Screen- Free

Parenting is a rollercoaster that loops its way through joy, love, and education. Every day you teach your child through action and language. Tactile games are useful tools to help your child learn new skills but with the continuous development of child-friendly computer and phone applications, children are now spending countless hours glued to their devices. It is easy to give your child your phone or iPad but it should not become a routine action in times when your child is acting out.
read more
5 Enrichment Activities to Pair with Classic Holiday Readings

From music to movies, flavors and foods, Christmas time brings with it so many lovely holiday traditions, including the classic stories that families look forward to hearing year after year. Create further learning opportunities and new traditions by pairing some of the most popular Christmas tales with enrichment activities that will expose your child to new ideas!
read more