It is a common belief that newborns can recognize their mother's voice only seconds after birth. Is it possible for a mother to use this information to help her new infant develop an interest in reading? Possibly. But if you didn't start reading to your child soon after birth, don't worry! It's never too late to start.

Off to a Good Start
"The importance of reading to children starts at birth," says Teresa Battiston, director of United Methodist Preschool, in Glendora, Calif. "The only thing that settles a child down at birth is the mother's voice. It may be humming a familiar tune or reading a simple rhyme, but it's all in the mother's voice."

It's not being implied that children can understand what you read to them the minute they are born, only that parents begin reading to their children as a way to soothe them with their voice. At this point in a child's development, the importance is not on what is read to the child, only that something is read to them.

"I believe in reading to a child even before they are born," says Michelle Marie Alcido from Houston, Texas. "I read to my son every night during the last three months of my pregnancy. I also brought a book to the hospital. I held him for the first time, nursed him for the first time, sang to him for the first time and, just importantly, I read to him for the first time!"

Reading to Toddlers
The U.S. Department of Education recommends that parents read to their children at least 20 minutes a day. Start there, then slowly expand on that time frame.

When a child begins reading – and being read to – at an early age, an interest in reading becomes routine in their lives. Reading at approximately the same time every day is helpful. For example, if you make "family reading time" after dinner every day, your child will adapt to that routine and soon will be bringing you a book for story time after dinner. If you have difficulty reading to your children, tell them stories. Hearing about their grandparents or family history experiences will be interesting and rewarding to them.

Be Creative
What reading does to a child's imagination and creativity alone is worth reading to them in the early stages of their lives. Children will often pretend and act out their favorite stories, which can be a great opportunity for Mom and Dad to get involved as well. Give everyone who is participating a character of the book, as if you are doing a play. Mother Goose books are fun and interactive to act out. This can give your child a clear picture of the story.

"Both my husband and I give characters special voices," says mother of two, Yvette De Luca, of Phoenix, Ariz. "I also have the girls act out stories they don't quite understand. It helps with comprehension."

Self-esteem
"Beginning to read at an early age helps build your child's self-esteem and increase their vocabulary," says Battiston.

With a good foundation in language from the beginning, reading becomes much easier. Children learn to form their sentences clearer than without books in their everyday lives. They feel more positive about themselves and it prepares them to read to a bigger audience. This is all very helpful in their readiness to begin kindergarten.

Relaxing
Reading to children at bedtime has more benefits than being part of a routine. Books are very relaxing and give the child happy thoughts before they sleep. It gives you the opportunity to snuggle as much as you can before falling asleep.

"We started reading to our children, who are twins, about the time they turned 6 months old," says Trina Lambert of Englewood, Colo. "I think it just helps them to think that reading is a part of life. Also, we used it as the bedtime indicator for them. Sometimes they'd grab at the pages or just want to turn it upside down, but mostly they loved looking at the pictures. I think that my kids associate reading with family time."

Don't Stop!
Once your child begins reading on their own, it doesn't mean you have to stop reading to them. "It is important for parents to continue to read to their children, even if their children already know how to read," says Dorothy Fountain, a reading specialist from Glendora, Calif.

Consider your continuation to read to them as a treat. They like that attention you give them when you read to them. Reading with your children can give you a topic to discuss together. You find out things your children are interested in. Once you get the feel of what your child is interested in, it is highly recommended researching whatever it is on your own. Your child will think you are at the coolest parent when you discuss their interests and that you actually know what they are talking about.

First Books
Children learn through repetition, so it's best to begin reading a rhyming book when introducing your child to reading. The rhythm and catchy phrases also help keep the child's attention, a definite plus when you're introducing reading to your child.

"Children's minds are like sponges; they catch on to everything," says Battiston. "After reading the same book to them a few times, children will have memorized the rhyme or repetition in the story and they can begin to read along with their parents. Read what interests your child the most. The younger the child, the more they enjoy the repetition type stories. They love to know what comes next. Some favorite stories would be Clifford, Good Night Moon, Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? and Little Critter." Battiston says that the Little Critter books by Mercer Mayer are really fun for little ones to read because they enjoy searching for the little spider in the pictures. "These types of books give children a positive experience, which is something that in their future will be of the utmost importance in our society," she adds.

Another type of book highly recommended for a young age is a board book. Board books are suitable for babies because they are durable and easy for small hands. They are also very bright, and when beginning to read to children at such a young age, the brighter the book, the more interested the child is. Board books can be more expensive than traditional paper page books, but the high durability and ability to outlast a growing toddler make it worth the extra cost. It may be best to begin by allowing your child to feel, hold and play with the book before beginning story time.

The Library
Toddlers are the perfect age to be introduced to the library! Almost every library has children's story time. This is a fabulous experience for children to learn to sit still. The children's librarian knows exactly what books to read to that age group for them to sit still. They give each character of the book its own special voice, which kids love. They will also enjoy sitting with other children their own age and listening to a story. Before you know it, they will want their own library card.

"When my son and I participated in library story time. It was to give him something to do in the summer with other children, and also to give myself a break to read," says Angela Giles-Klocke of Carersville, Ga., publisher of The Writing Parent. "I would help him sit in the circle around the storyteller. Unfortunately for me, I always wound up listening in and watching my child rather than reading or writing. The storytellers libraries hire are usually quite animated and fun, worth the trip in for everyone. While the story time is great for all, it should never be a substitute for reading to your child yourself."

Keep It Up!
The joy a parent feels when children begin reading alone is beautiful and fulfilling. This joy may often provoke parents to offer children books that are a bit more challenging. Don't put away those picture books just yet! Once they begin reading on their own, they go back to those picture books again. The stories are short, the pictures help with comprehension, and if they are stuck on a certain word, the picture helps them sound out the word and they end up putting two and two together. Also, the size of the words in picture books is very helpful.

Set an Example
Parents will need to remember that they are an example for their children. Parents can't expect children to read if they don't see other family members reading as well. Being a good role model is just as important as helping your child gain an interest in books and reading. One of the easiest ways to do this is to keep reading material that all members of the family may be interested in around the house.

"Children need to see reading is important to everyone," says Fountain. "They need to see our enthusiasm. Too much television is helping with children's visualizations – let the books help with the visualization. Let words make pictures in their minds."

Children learn to read from their parents. Whether in utero, as a newborn, a toddler or a preschooler, it is never too early or too late to fan the flames of reading with good books. When your child is crawling to his favorite reading spot in the house and has a book in his hand, know you are off to a good start. You just opened his eyes to reading.

Want to see more?

• Preschoolers Today Recommended Reading List
• Share your favorite books at the Activity Swap Discussion Board!
• No, It Doesn't Walk, Talk or Light Up
• Families That Play Together Stay Together – And Learn Too!
• Book It: The Importance of Reading to Your Child

About the Author: Susan Younan Attiyah is the author of a children's picture book, "I'll Never Find Anything in Here!" (Neighborhood Press). Susan is also a freelance writer in the subject of parent education, something she has studied for many years.