One of our families recently asked whether we could recommend some books for her 4-year-old to read at home.
It was an easy task; we just needed to ask Bluey and Bingo. Here are some of their favourites, especially the ‘lift-the-flap’ books which are fun and engaging. We like the cardboard style books that can be easily cleaned with a disinfectant wipe – especially if your child likes to read when practicing sitting on their toilet or potty.
There are so many books out there now to choose and explore with your child. Your local library may be a great resource too; it can give your little one variety whilst adding and consolidating their learning.
Bluey has a selection beside the toilet to look through when she is practicing on the toilet – here are the ones she likes – happy reading!
Find a quiet time to read the book when everyone is calm and receptive. Encourage the child to choose which book they would like to look through, it can be nice to take turns with whose choice of book it is. Some kids like you to read everything on the page but don’t feel you need to; adapt to your style, your child’s attention, and the moment. Learning new skills takes lots of opportunities to build and we all learn from exploring a task before we can action it.
It’s a wonderful opportunity in the day to share and spend time together. Getting an older sibling to get involved or looking through the book with the toddler in the family can increase the joy and learning. Being relaxed and having fun is the highway to building “I can do it”.
ROS PULLMAN (Occupational Therapist).
