Wellness trends may come and go, but one of the best things we can give a child is simple and lasting: reading. From a grandmother’s perspective, books are real brain food for kids, nourishing language, imagination, focus, and school readiness one story at a time.

What if that scribble on the paper is actually a full-blown adventure in the mind of a two-year-old? This simple grandmother-approved activity turns toddler drawings into stories by inviting little ones to explain their picture while a grown-up writes down their words. It is easy, meaningful, and a beautiful way to build imagination, language, confidence, and connection.

Last winter, I tried to be the “perfect grand.” I arrived with a bag of books, a reward chart, and a 20-minute plan. What could possibly go wrong? Well… everything. My grandson wriggled, I rushed the pages, and by night three, everyone dreaded “Carma’s reading time.” I could feel it—the sigh before I sat down, the way he slid off the couch, the tight smile I put on anyway. So, I scrapped the plan and asked myself, What am I actually trying to build here? Love of reading, of course.

Pre-reading activities with babies from birth to six months focus on creating a strong foundation for language and literacy development through exposure to sounds, words, and visuals. Here are some engaging and developmentally appropriate activities to help nurture a love for reading from the beginning.