1 – 3 Years

As your baby becomes a toddler, they grow more curious and talkative and move around more. This is an important time to sing, talk and read to help set your child on the road to success in school and life. If you don’t have one already, now is a good time to get a library card. Use it to access your local library.

Your toddler develops early language skills.

As your child begins to speak, choose books that expose them to more words. Point to objects on the pages and have your child name them.

Use new and more words when you talk with your child. Say the names of the streets when you drive or the names of stations while riding the Metro.

You’ll also notice your toddler loves to say “no.” Read books with your child where “no” is the most appropriate answer to questions.

Book Ideas

My clothes = Mi ropa By Rebecca Emberley	Where's Spot? By Eric Hill

Your child's hands and body movements develop.

Toddlers begin to have more control over their hands and bodies. Your child will pick up and handle objects more often. They will pick up items from the floor, move items from one hand to the other and squeeze and throw things.

Introduce large crayons. Scribble together on a piece of paper. Allow your child to handle books like Moo Moo Brown Cow by Jakki Wood and Rog Bonner. Choose small books with cardboard pages that they can handle and carry.

Encourage your toddler to move around.

At this age, your child will crawl, walk and even run a little. They may move away from you while you read. There is no need to try to force them to sit still; they are still listening. Read books with repeat words or phrases and books that encourage them to move around.
 

Book Ideas

But not the hippopotamus By Sandra Boynton	From head to toe By Eric Carle	If you're happy and you know it By Annie Kubler

Your toddler can do things on his own.

Your child starts to do things by themselves and they are proud when they can do something. Read collections of rhymes with few words on the page and allow your toddler to turn the pages.

Cardboard books with flaps on the pages, called Flap Books, allow your toddler to lift the flaps while you read.
 

Book Ideas

Dear zoo By Rod Campbell	Peek-a-boo what? By Elliot Kreloff	Tomie's baa, baa, black sheep : and other rhymes By Tomie DePaola

Your child learns simple concepts and begins to sort by size and color.

Your toddler can learn simple concepts like numbers, letters or colors. Point out letters or numbers while in the grocery store.
 

• Read books about numbers like Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
• Choose books about letters like Brian Wildsmith's ABC and My First ABC Board Book by DK Publishing.
• Select books about colors and sizes such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin and Eric Carle and Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin.

Have fun while your child begins to sort objects. Use socks, blocks, or large crayons. Ask them to pick up all of the big socks or draw with the green crayon. Use items that aren’t too small to avoid a choking hazard.

Your toddler uses more words.

As the number of words your child learns increases, it is important to choose books with harder words. Choose simple stories with new words. Alphabet, number, color and naming books are good options for toddlers.

Songs are also a great way to introduce new words. Sing songs you know or read books with children’s songs.
 

Book Ideas

Freight train By Donald Crews	Five little ducks By Raffi	The wheels on the bus By Jane Cabrera

As your toddler grows, her attention span increases.

Your child is able to pay attention for longer periods of time. Short, simple stories with real-life situations help him understand that a story has a beginning, middle and end. Make up or tell a family story on the bus ride home.
 

Book Ideas

Monkey and me By Emily Gravett	Flower garden By Eve Bunting	Dinosaur vs. bedtime By Bob Shea