Below are some answers to frequently asked questions about reading with babies, as well as tips for limiting screen time.

My baby likes to chew on books. Is this normal?

It is very natural for a baby to put a book in their mouth. It’s their way to learn and explore. You may want to provide a safe book for your baby to chew while you read to them from another book. If you pull the book away and say “No!”, the baby might think that books are not good. If you don’t want your baby to chew on a book, redirect them with a song or tickle. You can also provide them with a safe object to chew.

 

Does screen time help my baby learn?

Children learn best through face-to-face communication and interactions with real people. In fact, positive, fun and engaging early experiences between baby and caring adults lay the foundation for baby’s healthy development.

 

The Canadian Paediatric Society shares the following tips for screen use with children under the age of 3:

Make sure that your child has lots of time for interactive play and exploring the real, 3-D world. Consider how screen time fits into this balance.

Turn off background TV when no one is watching. Ensure better sleep by avoiding screen time in your child’s bedroom.

Participate with your child during screen time. Talk about what you see and make it an interactive activity. Check that the content and context are appropriate for your child.

 

Can my baby learn two languages at once or will it be too confusing?

Children can learn more than one language at the same time. Learning more than one language develops different parts of our brain. Research suggests that speaking more than one language can help a child learn how to switch from one task to another. It may actually hold off the effects of dementia later in life.

A child needs to be exposed to a language at least 30% of the time to become fluent in it. If your child is learning two or more languages at the same time, it may be helpful to use a specific language with a specific person or in a specific location. For example, you may want to use Spanish at home and English at child care.