Bethany Barrero

[Bethany Barrero @angel76_99]

@FINALLEVEL @Pa_dre_beats Sorry I missed this!!

[Dan Wuori @DanWuori]

“What do you read to a newborn? Can I just read her anything because she won’t understand?”

I love these questions and can try to shed a little light here.

Reading with your baby is incredibly powerful. It introduces rich vocabulary, begins exposing your child to how books - and ultimately reading - work, and provides wonderful opportunities for bonding and socialization.

And at the very earliest stages of infancy, it’s likely true that babies aren’t understanding content in the ways they soon will. But that said, let me offer a caution about language development that might make you think twice about exposing your baby to “just anything.”

Language develops - all across life - on two parallel tracks. There’s receptive language, which is what we hear and understand. And there’s expressive language, which is what we can speak aloud (or, later in life, express in writing.)

Receptive language comes first as I’ve recently been reminded on DuoLingo, where I’ve been practicing Finnish. As a novice, it’s fascinating to note how much more spoken and written language I understand than I can actually summon to speak aloud.

The same is true for your baby.

Infants are language sponges and begin soaking up your words from birth. This doesn’t mean that they’re instantly comprehending every word, especially in the newborn phase, but I always caution against the assumption that children are “too little to understand” the adult language and content to which they’re being exposed.

Ask any parent about the most embarrassing thing their toddler has blurted out in public and you’ll appreciate just how much more they’re taking in than we sometimes give them credit for.

All that to say, be thoughtful about what you’re exposing them to from the start. Language learning is a process… but it’s one that starts before children even enter the world.

As for what to read to newborns I have two responses. There are a wide variety of age appropriate “board books” designed for this very purpose. These heavy duty cardboard books are typically limited to a few pages, can be read in a minute or two, and often feature repetitive text and high contrast illustrations that pair well with your baby’s still-developing eyesight.

These are a perfect choice for early lap reading.

That said, I’m also an advocate for exposing your baby daily to a wide variety of vocabulary. Here you CAN read just about anything. I’d steer clear of content that’s profane, disturbing, or too adult in its themes - but otherwise have at it. Narrate your junk mail. Read a newspaper story aloud.

The real point here is to be judicious about content and never presume your child is too little to understand. While it’s probably true of newborns, this shifts rapidly and well before they can express these understandings aloud.

This lovely lap reading video from TripsandShips on IG illustrates beautifully. (Notice, for example, that baby knows what a lion is - and that it makes a different sound from a flamingo… even if she’s too young to fully narrate the book herself.)

[ICE T @FINALLEVEL]

Very Much Appreciated 👊🏽

[ICE T @FINALLEVEL]

ICE COLD FACT 💎

[Mr. T @MrT]

Happy birthday America! I am very proud, No, I am extremely proud to be a Christian American! Born and raised in this beautiful land, which I love! Yes, I love America! #USA

[Country Sayings @countrysayingss]

Brought to you courtesy of the red, white, and blue… #TobyKeith #4thofJuly #countrymusic

[ICE T @FINALLEVEL]

ICE COLD FACT 💎 ‘WORRYING, is like putting a Down Payment on a problem you may Never have..’ Alotta things just self fix themselves over time..

[Bethany Barrero @angel76_99]

@LouDPhillips Idk if you remember but you did Ms Saigon in Ft Worth my friend LaShelle and I went to the show and met you after where you were very gracious, Shelle passed away June 4th thank you for the memory w her

[Bethany Barrero @angel76_99]

@icecube Happy birthday!! 🎁🎉🎊

[Bethany Barrero @angel76_99]

@FINALLEVEL @LouDPhillips @Jo_Frost
This wonderful angel gained her wings early yesterday morning, please pray for this of us that loved her, she was truly a beacon of light love and everything God sent in this world. We love you shellebelle

[Bethany Barrero @angel76_99]

@FINALLEVEL please pray for this amazing lady, we r slowly losing her, thank you

[Bethany Barrero @angel76_99]

@OsheaJacksonJr Well said sir!! Your parents make you some of who you become, I loved that you played your dad!

[Bethany Barrero @angel76_99]

My heart is breaking, you are my person Shelle, i wish you could get better, i wish you could talk to me, i wish this wasn’t happening, love you big, @LouDPhillips @Jo_Frost

[Bethany Barrero @angel76_99]

@MrT Happy Birthday!!

[Bethany Barrero @angel76_99]

@FINALLEVEL Getting your mind there is the hardest thing to do, but I keep trying

[Bethany Barrero @angel76_99]

@MarthaQuinn Happy Birthday!!!

[marshmelonfan @meloni_hargitay]

Bring Elliot Stabler back to Law & Order: SVU - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/OwnRAJZbDJ via @Change @Chris_Meloni @nbc @WolfEnt

[Bethany Barrero @angel76_99]

@LouDPhillips and the FOLD, has anyone heard from Mary? Can’t remember her handle but she used to send cat pics and stuff to Lou, I haven’t seen her post in a long time and just wanted to check on her