Why Reading With Babies Matters More Than You Might Think

Reading with babies is often described as a calm, cozy moment, but it is also a powerful learning experience that reaches far beyond the words on the page. Long before children can speak or turn pages on their own, they are actively taking in sounds, rhythms, expressions, and interactions that help shape how they understand the world. These early reading moments lay the groundwork for communication, relationships, and learning across many areas of development.

When adults read with babies, they are doing much more than sharing a story. They are building connections, modeling language, and helping babies make sense of patterns, emotions, and everyday experiences. Even brief, informal moments with books can spark curiosity and support healthy brain development during a critical period of growth.

The ideas below explore the wide range of learning that can happen when adults read with babies. Together, they highlight how reading supports development in ways that are social, emotional, cognitive, and physical, and why these shared experiences are so meaningful from the very beginning.

13 Things Your Baby Learns as You Read Together

1. Books contain wonderful stories and songs that I can hear over and over again.
2. Reading time is a time when I am held and loved.
3. You tell me the names of my body parts, the sounds different animals make, and that animals go to sleep too.
4. Some books are especially enjoyable and I can hear them again and again.
5. Every time we read I hear how words are used, listen to rich language, and learn new words.
6. The letters, words, and pictures you point to, all have meaning.
7. I can explore how books are the same and how they are different by tasting and touching them.
8. There is always something hiding behind the flap; my favorite pictures are always in the same place in a book.
9. Listening is part of communication and language includes listening and understanding. 
10. Things come in different colors, sizes, and shape.     
11. It’s fun to play with language, and explore rhythm, rhyme and humor.
12. When I do something, another thing happens; if I point at a picture, my mom or dad will tell me its name. If I drop the book, we might stop reading.    
13. I love books and one day I will love to read on my own.  

By Julia Luckenbill

© National Association for the Education of Young Children — Promoting excellence in early childhood education