Imagination and Reading

In this issue of Babybug, Mommy helps Kim pretend to be a ladybug, flying about the garden. Toddlers’ emerging ability to engage in make-believe play supports their development in many critical ways, including building insights needed for reading and writing.
A toddler who tucks a blanket over a teddy bear, who proudly wears a leaf as a hat, or who serves a freshly made sandbox cake, is also strengthening such literacy skills as
•    the use of symbols, and
•    the capacity to imagine other worlds.

Symbols

You can watch your child’s understanding of symbols unfold: Sometime during their second year toddlers begin to engage in simple make-believe acts, usually with realistic-looking objects. At first, if your child pretends to drink, she’s likely to need a toy cup to support her actions. Later, a round block or other object works just as well. When she’s older, she may need no objects at all but will simply hand you an imaginary cup — and fill it from her invisible steaming teapot.

This substitution of toys and actions for objects and activities in the real world is no small matter. It’s this kind of representational thought that lays a foundation for the more abstract levels of thinking.

Imagining Other Worlds

When a child pretends, he creates a world that is fictional yet wholly absorbing to him. Psychologist Howard Gardner refers to early make-believe play by toddlers as the birth of the literary imagination, and for good reason. While listening to you read a storybook or a selection in Babybug, your child draws upon his experience in entering imaginary worlds and immersing himself in those actions and events. It’s an ability your child will use throughout life while reading or writing stories. And it begins with pretending. 
 

Play Together

• After you and your baby read and explore the charming artwork in “This Little Cow,” try using the verse as a variation on the traditional toe-wiggling game of “This Little Piggy.”  It’s fun to use the exciting “Chase, chase, chase” line for a quick, gentle tummy tickle.  
• Another way to play with “This Little Cow” is to help your toddler act out each line with a toy cow. When toddlers first learn to pretend, they often begin with everyday actions they understand such as eating, running, and napping.
• Babies learn to identify body parts in lots of ways, by looking at pictures, playing with dolls, or hearing you exclaim "Hey, that's my nose!" when they tug at it. Turn “Butterfly” into game that helps your child identify his shoulder, a body part she probably doesn’t hear named too often. Pretend your hand is the little blue butterfly, flying around and then swooping down to tap him on the shoulder.

Read Together

Use each issue of Babybug to help your child lay a foundation not just for learning to read but for loving to read. Read and reread the stories and verses while cuddling your baby or toddler. Watch your child’s reactions to discover his favorites. Consider making up your own versions or singing and pretending about them. There’s no right or wrong way. Enjoying your time together while reading makes all the difference.