Some of my favorite minutes with my grandkids are the ones we spend with a book. No phone, no hurry, just a little one on my lap and a story between us. Here’s why I think those minutes matter so much.
It’s time together
Little ones grow up fast. Reading out loud is one of the easiest ways to slow down and be close. You don’t have to plan anything. You just open a book. For a few minutes, it’s only the two of you and the story.
It helps them learn everyday things
Stories give little ones a picture of how things go. A book about cleaning up, going to bed or trying something new helps them know what to expect. That’s why I write my books about real-life routines. When the moment comes, they remember the story.
They hear new words
When you read out loud, little ones hear words they might not hear in everyday talk. They hear how your voice goes up and down, how a question sounds and how a funny part sounds. Even when they’re too little to read, they’re soaking it all up.
It makes memories
I still remember stories that were read to me. When my own kids were small, we read the same few books every night until the covers wore out, and they still remember the silly voices. Note for Mom: I guessed this. Is it right? Our grandkids will remember the voices we did, the songs we sang and the pages they asked for again and again.
Easy ways to make it a habit
- Keep a few short books where little ones can reach them.
- Pick a time that’s easy to repeat, like after lunch or before bed.
- Let them choose the book, even if it’s the same one every day.
- Point at the pictures and ask, “What do you see?”
- Make the sounds and sing the songs. Little ones love it when grown-ups get silly.
And when you can’t be there in person, a read-along video can help. Little ones can hear their Grammy’s voice, or mine, any time.
Read with Grammy
I make Grammy Reads books to be short, warm and easy to read out loud, with two coloring pages at the end. You can get the first pages of Clean Up with Grammy free, and watch me read it out loud with your little one.
