Reading to a 1 year old?

Is it just my DD or is it common for a 1 year old to refuse to be read to? We've always read to her before bed. When she was young, it was a breeze (especially when she was swadled! ) But now, she just takes the book and flings it out of our hands and then grabs another book off the shelf and does the same thing again. I am lucky if I can read her 2 pages. I've tried to read to her at all times of the day in case she is too tired at night, but its the same thing. She loves to play with her books but does not have the attention span to "read" them. There are always posts that people read several books a night to their child, but that would never happen in our house and its not for not trying. Help!

Re: Reading to a 1 year old?

here I thought I was the only one. We also used to read to her every night since she was born. But within the past 2 months, she can't be bothered.

Re: Reading to a 1 year old?

Good chance it's a phase and DC just finds it fun to fling the books right now. I would keep trying a bit, or try different books. Around that age, DS started to like Priddy Books (this is a publisher, they do lots of books with photos of objects and their names). He still likes them actually.

But most likely it just seems fun to throw them at the moment. DC will probably like them again.

Re: Reading to a 1 year old?

DS wouldn't really let us read to him at that age. I would suggest getting a bunch of picture books. Let her look at the pictures and talk about what's in them. My DS really likes some that had an animal on the page and there was a texture too. (Don't know who made them.)

He just turned 2 and he has a better tolerance for reading now. However, there are times that he picks out books that are way over his head and tolerance level and we just talk about what's going on in the pictures instead of attempting to read something that is too wordy for his age.

I promise that it will come if you are persistent. My DS absolutely loves books. He has us reading to him every chance he gets.

Re: Reading to a 1 year old?

I usually give DS a book of his own to hold, or even let him drink his milk while I read.

Re: Reading to a 1 year old?

My DD is doing something like this too... I think it's just they have ZERO attention span and everthing gets thrown once it becomes "old news". I try to read her a short book - like "Guess How Much I Love You" before bed or a book with textures that have one line per page and are short. Usually she can get through it. Back in the day I could read her a novel...

ETA: my sister got DD a book that has different pictures (it's baby einstein) and when we play I put this book down on the floor with the toys... she enjoys pointing to pictures and I tell her what they are. It's a fun game we play and she has control of turning the pages... it's card board so it not something she can tear.

Message edited 5/2/2009 9:02:57 PM.

Re: Reading to a 1 year old?

Thanks everyone!! I'm sure its just a loooong phase so I will keep trying and make some adjustments based on these suggestions. I only read board or picture books with her but maybe if I move the locale. We usually read in her glider next to her book shelf, but maybe that is too distracting. I also think I'll give her bottle while we read.

Re: Reading to a 1 year old?

Ryan is the opposite it's a little funny - he literally will pick the books out and climb on my lap with it and make me read it - sometimes several times. He will probably listen to 4-5 full books a day, but maybe this is a phase and come next week he'll be throwing them at me

I do notice it's mostly when he wants to chill that he initiates me reading a book to him - when he has a bottle or just tired.