The past few weeks I have visited a lot of young families with newborns. As I sit with these families and we adore these precious little gifts to our families and to those who know them, I am excited just to think what a wonderful world they have before them!

As they begin to search and explore life all around them, I begin to think of all the many avenues of learning. Reading to young children is understood by the young mind more than you know. It amazes me, and I know all those around just how quickly these little minds begin to absorb. This article is geared for the children from birth to around three years old.

Why wait to reap the benefits of beginning to read when your child is four or five years old. Don't miss a moment or opportunity to encourage your child to read and succeed.

The benefits of reading to your children early in their lives are to develop listening skills, to explore the world around them, to learn about themselves and others around them. Children are encouraged to learn meanings of words as well as memorizing words and phrases.

Young children are encouraged to use their imagination. Spending time reading to your child makes him/her feel secure and loved. Reading to your young child establishes a special bond between parents and child.

In reading to your babies from birth to 11 months, search for books that may be easy to wash and clean such as vinyl books, cloth or thick cardbook books. Set books up where they can be seen and enjoyed.

Point and tap the pages so the baby will focus on what is being read and keep baby's attention. Sitting with your young baby in your lap and looking at books will open the mind of a young child. Older babies like to hold books, point to pictures and turn pages. Be sure to name the objects and items the baby may see on each page.

With your 1-year-old child, he/she can point and express a choice of the books they want to read. Putting books out with feelable textures or those that make sound with sound devices are very motivating for your child in reading readiness.

Having your child point to pictures, naming them, and using a lot of expression in making sounds, begins the interactive reading readiness process.

Those wonderful 2-year-olds will want mom, dad, or grandparent to read their favorite books again and again! They will memorize it and you will too! Have a bookmarker or use your finger to point so your two year old can follow the words. Have your child to act out the story or retell the story in their own words.

Both of you can just sketch out pictures of what you remembered and enjoyed of the story.

Display the pictures around the house; they will tell others what they have read.

Ask your young child how this story relates to their lives. This is readiness for comprehension.

It doesn't take a lot of time to read to your young child. Make it a celebration by eating your favorite snack while reading together. Make reading a book a day a top priority in your young child's life.

Check in with your local library to see what hours they read to young children. Embark on the journey of reading early in your child's life as they learn, grow, apply and succeed.

You will never regret the time you spent reading to your child.

Beth Pinyerd serves as director of younger children at Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort, Ala.