DS doesn't like books :(

[neonalee]

Except to eat I suppose.  If I try to read to him he pushed the book closed.  He never sits still long enough anyway.  The only time I was able to read a book to him was when he was much younger and stuck in the exersaucer.  He's very go go go right up until I lay down next to him at night and he starts nursing.  If I try reading while he's nursing (reading for myself not to him) he keeps trying to grab & push the book, but if I'm on my phone (on a forum usually) that's fine.  Could this be normal boy behavior and he'll eventually like to be read to?  I never even considered I wouldn't be able to read to him  

[weliveintheforest]

Originally Posted by neonalee 
 

Could this be normal boy behavior and he'll eventually like to be read to?  I never even considered I wouldn't be able to read to him  

Yes, I think it is normal toddler behaviour and he will probably like it when you read to him in a couple of years.   

[chiromama01]

DD only likes pop up books, and thats only to rip the pop ups out.  She has NEVER sat still long enough for me to read a book to her (she's 2 and 1/2) but I figure, when she's ready, we'll read.  Till then, I'll wait.... I'm sure he's just "too busy" to be bothered, just like my little one :)

[Nicole730]

It took awhile for my son to enjoy being read to, now at 3, he loves it and will read to himself too.  My daughter is 17 months and she will happily bring a book, climb on my lap, and then shut the book the second I open it so she can get down and go get another.  I think how your son is acting is normal and he will outgrow it. :)

[mamazee]

He was born Aug. 2010, so he's just a year old? Yeah, he'll grow into it. He's behaving just to be expected for his age, for boys or girls.

[neonalee]

Thanks mamas!  I'll add this to my list of things that were not what I expected about raising a kid!  

[dakotablue]

Hey just wanted to suggest what we've been doing. DS1 loves books, but can't keep his body still as long unless in 'right' mood. BUT he does enjoy my reading to him while he quietly plays, pushes books in my hand and gets irritated if he knows I didn't finish story.

I figure for now its enough to 'see' books being used for pleasure and hope for the toddler busy bodies to grow well.

[NiteNicole]

My daughter went through a phase when she was still mostly pre-verbal (she would say single words, point and say things, repeat phrases, but not really TALK) where she would bring me books and we would read Goodnight Moon 18 times in a row with her filling in words and pointing out objects.  Then one day she was OVER reading and was not interested again till she was nearly four.  Even then, she was interested in trying to identify letters and write them, but she was good for maybe one SHORT book.  Around the time she turned four, she got really interested in having us read to her and now at 5.5 (no preK, starts K next week), we read together a LOT.  We go to the library once a week and choose stacks of books and books on CD. 

I think she was just too busy to sit down and read.  I offered books, my husband and I both read a lot, we went to bookstores all the time and looked at books.  Sometimes I would read to her while she was crafting or I'd read a Christmas book while we were making Christmas cookies, summer themed books in the summer time, etc, usually while she was doing something else.  Eventually she came around.  I think if I had tried to FORCE it she would have balked (she's like that).

We hear so often about how important reading is and how it gives kids an advantage if you read to them X minutes a day.  I think most parents have dreams of reading books at bedtime and starting those traditions but if it makes your kid miserable, try again later.  I know very few one year olds who will willingly sit still long enough to be read to.  You're right on track!

[neonalee]

Originally Posted by NiteNicole 

  I think most parents have dreams of reading books at bedtime and starting those traditions 

Yep, this is why.  We're BIG readers in my family & I have very fond memories of being read to.  When he was really little I would put him on the activity mat & read out loud whatever I was currently reading, just so I COULD read lol but now the second I sit down with any book or magazine he's there pulling at it, ripping it, etc.  Ah, this to shall pass & I will wait...

[sunnygir1]

We read a lot in my family too, and I read about how reading to children from a very young age was good for their development.  So, I was disappointed when dd wouldn't sit for a book until she was older (I can't remember what age).  Now (she's 4) she would sit all day reading every book in the house if I'd do it.  Ds is almost 2 and he still won't sit for a book, even when he and dd are in the bathtub and I sit on the toilet to read to them -- he often ruins the moment by trying to splash the book or screaming or something.  I agree that it's kind of a bummer, but I think it's totally normal, and it is extremely likely that your lo will like being read to when he's a little older.  I agree that the first thing to come is being able to page through books with them and talk about the pictures, ask them to identify things, etc.

[Bokonon]

My first was a book lover from the start - never tore a page or chewed a board book.  My second tears pages out of books, used to chew on them, and didn't really like to be read to for her first 15 or so months.  But now?  She could be read to alllllll day.  I had to curtail the bedtime stories because she would have me read a dozen books if she had her way.  She still occasionally tears pages, but she loves looking at books and hearing them read.

Like the others said, it happens for some babies later than others, but it WILL happen!  My son is now a beginning reader, but would much rather be read to than read himself.

[Abraisme]

Totally normal!  My DS didn't like to read until he was 3yo.  He went on to learn how to read at 5yo and is now totally at grade level for his age.  I wouldn't push it, when he's ready it'll all work out.  :)

[callahansmama]

My son was the same way and he still is super active and never really sits still for too long at almost 15 months. But almost overnight a few weeks ago he began bringing us books to read and really taking an interest in them. His favourites are ones with simple photos (animals, vehicles, babies and kids) and labels but he also likes touch and feel books. He mostly stands beside us while we read or walks away and comes back and babbles a lot while pointing at the books. He will even sit in our laps now and read a page or two and then he's off again. I had some concerns that I wasn't reading enough to him a little while ago because he just didn't seem interested at all but like magic he became interested on his own and I'm sure your son will too:)

[nwatt]

I can tell you what worked for us...

DD wasn't really interested in books for the longest time, but I just kept reading to her.  If I started a book and she wandered away, I just read kept reading it until it was done.  I repeated books over and over again so that she got used to them.  I made sure that I read to her almost every day.  I also let her play with her board books, even when she was eating them, as much as she wanted.  If she wanted to bring me a book and them close it, I just told her the title or talked about the cover until she brought me the next one. She could clear a shelf in no time.  Suddenly, around 15 months, she started loving books.  She now brings books to us and insists upon us reading to her all the time.  Playing with books is a precursor to reading/listening.

Just keep books a part of your daily lives and as soon as he is ready to really listen to stories he will let you know. 

[clockworkhobbsy]

Your little one is very young. Keep some books around the house and he'll come to them on his own if he cares to. Or go to the library and let his gravitate to what he wants.

[neonalee]

Originally Posted by nwatt 

I can tell you what worked for us...

DD wasn't really interested in books for the longest time, but I just kept reading to her.  If I started a book and she wandered away, I just read kept reading it until it was done.  I repeated books over and over again so that she got used to them.  I made sure that I read to her almost every day.  I also let her play with her board books, even when she was eating them, as much as she wanted.  If she wanted to bring me a book and them close it, I just told her the title or talked about the cover until she brought me the next one. She could clear a shelf in no time.  Suddenly, around 15 months, she started loving books.  She now brings books to us and insists upon us reading to her all the time.  Playing with books is a precursor to reading/listening.

Just keep books a part of your daily lives and as soon as he is ready to really listen to stories he will let you know. 

I'm going to do this (and as others have posted).  Interesting experience the other night.  He was wandering around our bedroom and I grabbed Red Fish Blue Fish and read the whole thing to him (twice I think).  I was lying on the bed and he was walking/crawling around it and on the floor.  I just kept adjusting my position so I was facing him, or moving the book out of his hands and saying "Mommys reading".  Before & after each run through I also let him open/close it and turn pages and just pointed out stuff and read bits.  Not exactly a breakthrough, but I could see some interest in what I was doing at least!  Besides, it was kinda fun!

[hildare]

one thing i don't think anybody else mentioned is keeping some board books/ noisy toy kinds of books available to the kid. 

we had little baskets in each room with a few.  eventually dd would pick them up and flip through and throw them, but that's how it started. 

now she can't get enough of being read to each night.  just don't get discouraged, keep them available and eventually it will become fun. 

the ones dd liked best and first were the books that had baby faces on them.  those really got her attention and it moved from there.

[jennybear]

He's a year?
 

Right after DD turned 1, it was like a light switched on and all of a sudden she couldn't get enough books. Now, at 19 months, it's all "Book! Read! Book! Read!", which is great, but we're also reading her favorite few books eleventy billion times per day. :p

So, my guess is that he will warm up to it. In the meantime, enjoy not reading Llama Llama Red Pajama overandoverandoverandover lol.