Our Bedtime Reading Routine

I've been reading to Kai before bed since he was only a month old. It was easy when he was little because I could just read him whatever I was reading at the time. The goal back then was not for him to understand but to be exposed to the sounds and rhythm of the spoken language. Very soon we switched from wordy books to picture books, but even then Kai was young enough to simply enjoy whatever I put in front of him. Ever since he started talking, Kai would tell me what books he wanted to read before bed, and very often it's the same books night after night. As his book collection expanded, we started encouraging him to go to the bookshelf and pick the books he wants to read for the night. It was always a hoot watching the toddler actually taking his time thinking and choosing with his chin in one palm. Now that Kai's sleeping in his own bed, we tell him that he can pick two books: one we'll read while he snuggles on mommy; one we'll read when he gets in bed by himself. It's been working very well so far. The end of the first book serves as a signal: It's time for Kai to get into his bed. The boy rarely protests because he knows what to expect. In fact, he's been so good that, as soon as I finish reading the last sentence of the book he chooses, he'll say, "The end. Now Kaikai goes to Kaikai's bed and read a book" and climb into his bed.

All this "reading" has also changed as he matures: from passively receiving the sounds that came out of mommy's mouth to actively reciting or asking questions. I've also noticed that, to Kai (at 26 months old), reading means from cover to cover. I have to read the title on the front cover before turning to the first page or he'll make me go back to it. If it's a new book, Kai will point at the title and ask, "What it says, mommy?" Then he runs his fingers through the letters and repeats the title.

In the last month or so, our bedtime reading routine has changed yet again. Now with greater familiarity with the books he owns and confidence in himself as a competent reader, this little book worm has decided to take a more independent approach in our "reading" activity. Instead of choosing 2 books before bed, he now chooses 3. He always has 2 books for the "reading while snuggling" part: one for mommy; one for Kaikai. We separately engage in reading side by side. He actually reads the book in his hand out loud. Maybe not every single word but enough to tell the story. While he's busy reading that book, mommy has to be doing her assigned reading as well, preferably in total silence. And mommy has to really read it. He actually pays attention and says, "Read, mommy. Read!" if he notices that I haven't turned a page in a while. Then we swap the books and do the same things again.

Tonight, as he was reading "Eeyore Had a Birthday" (Mommy was assigned "Pooh and Piglet Go Hunting), Kai started chuckling when he got to the part when Winnie the Pooh ate the pot of honey he'd planned to give Eeyore for his birthday. I asked why it was funny. He said, "Because Winnie the Pooh eat it. No birthday cake... honey... for Eeyore now. It's silly."
"Who's silly?" I asked.
"Winnie the Pooh!" he answered in a "Ugh! Need you ask, mommy?" tone.

I wonder when he'll let me choose my own book to read with him before bed....