Reading to your babies is one of the moments you treasure forever.  When Jackson’s mom told me that she and her little man love books, I knew we would be doing this set during Jack’s baby photography session.

There are two things that my kids know I will ALWAYS do with them.  While I may not be really into playing barbies, they know that I will always read them a story and I am always up for a game.  Reading is my favorite.  There is something magical about snuggling together with blankets and pillows reading a book.  Jack’s mom has started a tradition of a shared activity that will bring her and Jack much happiness for the years to come.

Reading Aloud:

• teaches a baby about communication
• introduces concepts such as stories, numbers, letters, colors, and shapes in a fun way
• builds listening, memory, and vocabulary skills
• gives babies information about the world around them

“Believe it or not, by the time babies reach their first birthday they will have learned all the sounds needed to speak their native language. The more stories you read aloud, the more words your child will be exposed to and the better he or she will be able to talk. Hearing words helps to build a rich network of words in a baby’s brain. Kids whose parents frequently talk/read to them know more words by age 2 than children who have not been read to. And kids who are read to during their early years are more likely to learn to read at the right time.

When reading, your child hears you using many different emotions and expressive sounds, which fosters social and emotional development. Reading also invites your baby to look, point, touch, and answer questions — all of which promote social development and thinking skills. And your baby improves language skills by imitating sounds, recognizing pictures, and learning words.” -Kids Health Magazine

But best of all reading aloud to your baby creates a connection to books with all the things he loves the most, you and your voice.