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During my pregnancy with Sebby, I was advised to talk and read to him from the very beginning, a suggestion likely from our NCT practitioner. Reading to infants and toddlers has countless benefits, including fostering language exposure, speech development, and comprehension long before they can talk. Babies absorb sounds and information from birth, acting like sponges. Sebby’s language skills have always been strong, a result of continuous reading. Shortly after he was born, my brother gifted us the full Beatrix Potter collection, and from the first week, I would read these delightful stories in bed. Sebby now knows them all, picking his favorites post-nap. His enthusiasm even extended to naming our goldfish after characters he adores, like Burglar Bill and Jeremy Fisher. Talking to a newborn felt challenging initially—chatting aloud while strolling down the street felt odd. But, when Sebby was in a sling, narrating my activities became easier, evolving into a natural habit.
Currently, as I train to be a primary school teacher, our coursework places a strong emphasis on literacy, language, vocabulary, and speech. Instilling a love for books and engaging children with reading from an early age is essential, offering lasting benefits. Reading to a child is an invaluable gift, and it brings immense joy. Our nightly routine after bath time includes picking three stories—two for my bed and one in his room under dim lights. Many wonderful children’s books are available, and at the end of a hectic day, there’s nothing quite like snuggling up and escaping into stories together.
Some of my dearest memories are from childhood, spent in my mom’s bed with my brothers, listening to stories in our pajamas. We couldn’t read them ourselves, yet these books introduced us to new worlds and broadened our imaginations—classics like The Borrowers, Dr. Seuss, Alice in Wonderland, Tolkien, and Enid Blyton. Reading to children from infancy is incredibly important. This morning, Sebby discovered the Mr. Men collection on his bookshelf, lovingly preserved by my mom from our childhood. Together, we enjoyed them over breakfast, delighting in shared memories. Books are something I deeply cherish, and Sebby shares this passion. Despite everything else, I feel immense satisfaction in passing my love for reading on to him.
