Best Bad-Weather Baby Activity: Reading
Author: Heather Slee
When it's cold or rainy or snowy, my favorite activity is turning on a soft-glowing lamp, grabbing a cozy blanket, and reading a book. However, while curling up and relaxing might not be on the docket now, books still are. It's a great way to spend time indoors when the weather won't let you out.
Your baby's favorite books are probably board books, or books with thick, cardboard pages. Board books are not only more durable than books with thin, paper pages, but the thick pages make them easy for your baby to grasp and turn. When they learn they can help read the books by turning the pages and opening surprise flaps, they will enjoy the books even more.
You may also find that your baby likes repetitive books. You know, the ones you can recite by heart, that keep saying the same thing over and over. It's because your baby likes to know what's coming so they can anticipate it. It's exciting for them, even though it may start to haunt your dreams at night.
Another great thing to look for in a board book is textured pages. Maybe the book has a furry cat, or a crinkly parrot. Soon your baby will be feeling all the books you own, expecting a sensory surprise.
Here are some of my recommendations for board books:
Pajama Time by Sandra Boynton My Babies by Emma Treehouse Flip Flap Acrobat by Sally Kindberg Tails by Matthew Van Fleet Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. Noisy Farm by DK Publishing Peekaboo Kisses by Barney Saltzberg
Another way to make each book special is by getting a little silly. Make exaggerated animal noises (this gets tough when you don't know what sound a giraffe makes…). Do hand gestures or grab little toes or do little dances. Try funny voices. Soon your child will start to anticipate your funny additions, and you'll both get a great laugh. They'll start smiling as soon as you start turning to the last page in the My Babies book because you point to each animal and say "Baaaa! Peep-peep-peep! Moooo!"
