Babybug Magazine

What matters most of all is that your children clearly treasure those moments of warmth and closeness when you read to each of them. Feeling loved while being read to usually turns into loving to read. And you're right; it would be enjoyable to be able to read to them together: A younger sibling can learn from the older one's observations. And, the older child can enjoy revisiting old favorites without fear of seeming babyish.

As I'm sure you know, Sadie--like all young toddlers--is discovering that she's a person with her own ideas, plans and opinions. Toddlers are new at balancing this strong sense of self with the satisfactions of being part of a family. Responding to this need and to other toddler characteristics can help you support her as you move towards reading to your daughters together.

Toddlers like to be in charge. They want to feel as competent and capable as the grown-ups they love. When you're getting ready to read with both children, offer Sadie some small choices to help her feel in control. You might ask:

Shall we sit in the chair or on the floor?
Which book should we read first? (Offer only two.)
Would you like to be the page turner?

It's you, however, who makes the final decision about whether to include Jelena when Sadie objects.

Toddlers love routines. Routines and rituals reassure toddlers that the world is an orderly, predictable place. If you usually read to Sadie in a certain cozy chair when Jelena is at her drop-off program, she may be appalled to see Jelena reading with you in her place, apparently disrupting a special routine.

Consider doing any joint reading in a completely different room in your home. Sadie's reading routine with just you will thus remain unchanged until she is old enough to manage sharing it.

Sadie is less likely to object when it's another adult reading to them. Having your husband or a caregiver be the reader for a while can help her accept this additional "reading with my sister" routine.

Tell stories to your daughters instead of reading to them for a while. When Sadie becomes used to sitting with you and her sister while listening to stories, try introducing a book.

Toddlers enjoy simple back-and-forth games. Sadie may find playing a game as you turn the pages an irresistible attraction to reading with her sister.

Play a find-and-point game. Ask one child to find and point to all the babies and the other child to point to all the mommies in a book. Ask Sadie to pat the kittens in a story while her sister pats the puppies.

Have both children join in reciting a regularly repeated phrase or clap along as you read a verse with a lively rhythm.

- Sally Nurss