When should you start reading to a child? The answer is as soon as possible.
An unborn child can hear sounds at 18 weeks so you don’t have to be holding your infant in your arms in order to introduce them to your voice. That is one benefit of reading aloud to a baby – they get to know you through sound before you’ve ever touched them. And then from the earliest days outside of the womb a parent-child reading time introduces the joy of words.
Research shows that a child who is read to goes into kindergarten having been exposed to 1million more words than a child for whom reading has not been a regular part of life*. Words children hear in books are more complicated than normal adult conversation. Reading exposes a child to more diverse vocabulary in their most formative years. But for a Christian there is more to it than that. By introducing your child to the pleasure and habit of reading God’s word you are giving them a Christian foundation. You are introducing the joy of worshipping the one true God through the word spoken and read.
Here are some excellent board books to help you get started.
‘The Baby Believer’ series by Harvest House. Let There be Light introduces the concept of opposites through simple illustrations and Bible verses. Through light and dark, above and below, work and rest, you and your child will be drawn into the wonderful person of our creator God. A companion volume First Bible Basics uses numbers 1–10 to introduce foundational faith facts. I would buy both together simply because First Bible Basics (ISBN 978 0 736 972 321) introduces Christ, and the ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus. Let There be Light (ISBN 978 0 736 972 369) focuses on Old Testament Scriptures.
Crossway have published a chunky board book entitled Creation. What I really liked about this book is how it introduces God’s creation of men, women and marriage. This book ends with a strong reference to salvation and how God will make a new creation one day (ISBN 978 1 433 578 854).
If you are looking for something a bit smaller try the ‘First Words’ series. One title which I have is called Christmas (ISBN 978 1 904 637 318). But how about learning the attributes of God such as His love and power! Try the ‘Learn about God’ series which has six titles including God Never Changes (ISBN 978 1 857 924 787) and God is Kind (ISBN 978 1 857 924 763).
Finally, Peek-a-boo Bible is a collection of four small board books on the person of Jesus in one cardboard slip case (ISBN 978 1 527 100 459).
* The Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Ohio State’s Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy.
