Best Baby Learning Activities

Parents, you are your child’s first, and most influential teacher! City’s First Readers has a number of resources to help you build strong literacy skills with your children. It’s much easier than you think, and we give you ideas to make learning fun for the entire family.

Book List

Board books are great for babies and young toddlers. Your child will put books in their mouths, and the thick pages ensure the book will last for many readings. Remember to have fun with books. You don’t always have to read the words. You can talk about the pictures! Try these fun board books which can be found through your local library:

  • Global Babies by The Global Fund for Children
  • Tap Tap Boom Boom by Elizabeth Bluemle
  • Time for Bed by Mem Fox
  • Peek-A Who? by Nina Laden
  • Toot by Leslie Paricelli
  • Subway by Anastasia Suen
  • Do Cows Meow? by Salina Yoon
  • Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
  • Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin, Jr
  • The Big Hungry Bear by Don Wood
  • Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Bilingual Baby Books:

  • Besos for Baby: A Little Book of Kisses by Jen Arena
  • Where’s the Baby/¿Donde está el bebé? by Cheryl Christian and Laura Dwight
  • Sweet Dreams/Dulces Sueños by Pat Mora
  • Green Sheep / Donde esta la oveja verde? by Mem Fox
  • A Time For Bed/ ES HORA DE DORMIR by Mom Fox
  • The Napping House / La Casa Adormecida by Audrey Wood

Fun Activities to Try At Home

Playing, singing, and speaking play an important role in literacy development.

  • Sing to your baby often. The songs you sang as a child are great (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, ABCs, The Wheels on the Bus, etc.).
  • Talk to your baby about things as you go through the day (“Let’s put your socks on before we put your shoes.”), and ask questions (“Would you like milk or juice?”).
  • When playing with your baby, use toys or objects to talk about colors, sounds, faces, and feelings.