Why it’s important to read with toddlers at 18 months-3 years
It’s good to read, talk about books, share stories, and sing every day. This helps your toddler’s development in many ways.
For example, through these activities your toddler learns new speech sounds and words. Your toddler also starts to understand how sounds go together to make words and what words mean. This builds your toddler’s language skills and literacy skills and helps your toddler go on to read successfully later in childhood.
Reading stories stimulates your toddler’s imagination and helps your toddler learn about the world. For example, reading books can help your toddler learn about and feel respect for other cultures.
Reading also develops your toddler’s social skills and skills for managing emotions.
And reading together creates a precious time for bonding with your toddler.
You can start reading to your toddler as early as you like – the earlier the better. Our article on reading and storytelling with children has more information to get you and your toddler started.
Tips for reading, sharing books and storytelling with toddlers at 18 months-3 years
At this age, reading with your toddler is all about having fun with books, spending special time together and modelling a love of books and reading.
Here are tips that can help you and your toddler make the most of book time:
- Help your toddler choose a book, and then ask your toddler to hold the book and turn the pages.
- Read books like Where is the green sheep?, which have repetitive words and phrases.
- Repeat familiar words and phrases, and then get your toddler to fill in the words in familiar stories. Or try pausing and letting your toddler finish sentences for you – for example, ‘Moo said the …?’
- Ask your toddler to name, describe or act out what they see on the page. For example, ‘What’s that? That’s right – it’s a monkey. What is the monkey doing? Can you jump up and down like that monkey?’
These general tips are helpful for reading and storytelling with most young children:
- Make a routine, and try to share at least one book every day. A special space where you and your child go to read – with a box of books and something comfortable to sit on – can help with establishing your routine.
- Be guided by your child’s interest. There might be days when your child doesn’t want to spend a long time reading, and that’s OK.
- Use your voice, gestures and facial expressions to engage your child, and to help them understand the meaning of words and pictures.
- Turn off the TV or radio, put your phone on silent, and find a quiet space to read so your child can focus and listen to your voice.
- Hold your child close or on your knee while you read so they can see your face and the book.
- Make connections between the pictures and your child’s life. For example, ‘We saw a cow last week, didn’t we?’ or ‘You’ve got a fire engine like that, haven’t you?’
- Turn the pages slowly, give your child plenty of time to look at the pictures, and talk with your child about what they see.
- If your child wants to, let them choose the books. Be prepared to read your child’s favourite books over and over again!
Ebooks can be handy, especially if you’re travelling or away from home. If your toddler wants to read ebooks, read them together and choose stories without distracting animations or games. It’s best if ebooks don’t replace paper books. And it’s important to balance screen time and digital technology use with other activities.
Types of books to read with toddlers at 18 months-3 years
Toddlers often enjoy books that have good rhyme, rhythm and repetition – and these qualities can help toddlers learn.
Books that are the right length for your toddler can keep them engaged. Books that you can read in 4-5 minutes are usually a good length for toddlers.
Toddlers might especially enjoy:
- simple stories with a beginning, middle and end
- books with animals and animal noises
- books about a favourite topic, like cars, trucks, fairies, pets, stars and planets, music, castles, the ocean, princesses or trains
- books about playtime that relate to their experiences
- lift-the-flap and pop-up books – toddlers can have fun with books with moveable pieces.
Book suggestions for toddlers at 18 months-3 years
Below are some great books for toddlers. Many of these books have the rhymes, rhythms and repetition that toddlers love.
Books about animals
- A is for Australian animals by Frane Lessac
- Crocodile beat by Gail Jorgensen
- The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
- The Hairy Maclary collection by Lynley Dodd
- Pig the pug series by Aaron Blabey
- Rumble in the jungle pop-up book by Giles Andreae
- The very cranky bear series by Nick Bland
- The very hungry caterpillar by Eric Carle
Books about transport
- The wheels on the bus by Penny Dann
- Want to play trucks? by Ann Stott
Books about a child’s world
- Each peach, pear, plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
- I went walking by Sue Williams
- Our library by Donna Rawlins
- The whose … series by Jeanette Rowe, which includes Whose baby? and Whose nose?
- Why I love Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft
Books about daily life
- Cuddle time by Libby Gleeson
- On your potty by Virginia Miller
- Peepo by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
- Ten little fingers and ten little toes by Mem Fox
- Time for bed by Mem Fox
- What colour are your knickers by Sam Lloyd
Why not visit your local library? It’s free to join and borrow books. The staff will be able to recommend books for you and your toddler to enjoy. Many libraries also offer free story time sessions for toddlers and their parents or carers.
For more story ideas, let storyteller Anne E. Stewart introduce you and your toddler to ‘Mook Mook the owl’, ‘The crocodile’ and ‘The old lady and the mosquito’.