As I have mentioned in my earlier entry, reading to the baby nowadays is a struggle. But all parenting guides, magazines or website recommend caregivers to read to the babies from about 6 months, or even when they are just newborns. They claim that reading aloud will stimulate the baby’s growth and development. There is certainly no harm reading or talking more often to the baby, but these two activities really aren’t my forte.

It was quite easy during the initial months. The baby couldn’t roll over yet, she wasn’t mobile at all and didn’t protest so much when I laid her down. I have two big books of classic fairy tales and short stories with colourful illustrations. All I had to do was to snuggle up to her, opened the book and read to her. She was really interested in the books then, probably the colourful pictures caught her. I could read for 30min at one go. I got bored before she did. But very soon, her attention span started to shortened (at an alarming rate). She wouldn’t stay still to let me finished reading, or would looked away or reached out to grabbed the pages. Got me frustrated and I lost momentum, became inconsistent with this activity.

I switched to reading shorter stories, but still couldn’t captured her attention. I strapped her in her stroller or bouncy chair to restrain her. She struggled to come out. I sat her on my laps and read to her, she fought for freedom. Recently, I let her stand inside her cot while I read to her, aiyo, she listened for a while,then starts to pat pat the cot railing. I think I am really trying too hard to get her attention, so desperate! I almost regard it as a chore that needs to be completed everyday. Obviously what I have done are so wrong.

And suddenly, I remembered different strategies deployed to teach babies at different ages mentioned in the Glenn Doman’s books. For newborns, session could be slow but often, it is basically for stimulation. For infants 3-6mths old, they are always hungry for new informations, the flashcards are to be shown quickly and new cards to be added often, sessions can be longer if the kid is interested. For 7-12mths babies, their mobility is expanding, therefore their attention span is getting shorter. Cards sessions are to be very brief, but often. For 12-18mths, sessions are to be very very brief, and stop before the baby wants to stop (to facilitate his physical development and keep him interested in learning).

Flashcards aside, that explains why she used to be so keen in listening to me reading, but simply couldn’t be bothered with me now. I tried too hard to read long stories to her (which is so boring) while she prefer to explore. I changed my strategy this morning. I took a very kiddish story book (with very short sentences and lots of pictures), sat her on the floor in front of me, opened the book, showed her the pictures as I read, then promptly put it away after finishing the pages. Took me only about 1 min. I repeated this a few times (until I cannot do it anymore) with intervals in between. Seems to work, she was able to sit still for that minute and listen to me! I am more encouraged now!