I love books! I want every child to have access to books and grow up with a love for reading... that's my dream!
Reading can start at Day One!! Will your newborn understand the words, or the story? Nope! But they will feel safe and protected while snuggling in your arms. They will love to hear the cadence of your voice. And as they grow, they will look forward to this routine of reading, to the time spent together. They will start to learn that words have meaning, and they will start to understand the meanings of those words.
Reading just 15 minutes a day for 5 years equals 27,375 minutes. That's over 456 hours! Wow. That's amazing.
In the first few years of life your babies brain is literally making trillions of connections. They are constantly learning about the world around them and that includes how to form sounds for speech and learning new vocabulary. When you read to your baby you are helping them during these critical years as they develop and grow. They learn best through interactions. There is NO SUBSTITUTE for you! None. That means setting a screen in front of your baby or toddler with a youtube storyteller, is not the same, or as beneficial!, as you sitting with them and reading a story.
You don't need to have a mountain of books at home - your little one will love to listen to the same story over and over and over. And you don't need to spend a lot of money on books... they add up quickly! Go to your local library and check out a bag full of books. Your child will love their time with you, they will look forward to a special outing, and they will be thrilled to pick out dozens of new (free!) books every few weeks!
Go. Read. It's worth it. It's a gift.