Try your local library. Ds1 would play with the toys then we'd finish with a story and he got to pick a few to take home. I let him take control and he LOVES books now.

Just keep trying. Both of my sons had a hard time listening to stories until they were about 2, I always have read to them partly for them but before they were about a year they had just been being held while I read to my older daughter. Anyway it takes time and practice for them to learn to enjoy it. But please don't give up and make it an enjoyable time. When we read to our kids it helps them to develop a love of reading and learning that becomes very valuable to them later in life. I have taught school for many years and one of the most valuable things you can do to help your child in school is to read with them.

Have you tried the books that encourage him to grab. Touch textures, lift up flap etc. He might enjoy that more to start off with & build your way up to just you talking. DD likes a stuffed toy to sit down with her.

I was always read to as a child whereas DH could never sit still apparently, so wasn't & his literature & grammar is much better than mine as an adult so don't worry too much but I'd be keen to start introducing soon in preparation for school.

Maybe have a special pillow/blanket that is just for reading time. You sit together and point to pictures for a few days/weeks first before diving into the reading. Take it slow. Even. Picking books together etc. make the focus first on the set aside time/space and then the reading will come naturally to the time. I'd suggest as an afternoon or late morning activity. Maybe even after nap/at wake up etc as you are likely to have more cooperation from rested baby. Way to go momma. Stick with it.

Puppets! Kids LOVE puppets! In college I volunteered at our local adult learning center and book store and even children with adhd/add would sit and listen to the book. Do silly voices and they love it. You can just buy one and it be the one that "reads" at story time. Amazon has very reasonable priced ones. Or you can make your own, Pinterest has great ideas. You could even use a sock and draw eyeballs on it and kids love it. My 4 old, would want to talk during bedtime stories and ask questions about pictures which is great, but I told her she had to let mommy read the book first to her and then she could read it to me and ask questions about the pictures/story. It took a couple of tries before there were no interruptions, but just keep trying! I promise it will be very rewarding for the both of you and a great way to strengthen your bond.

My girls are 7 and 5 and they've never wanted me to read to them. I'd of loved too but the last few nights when I've tucked them in to bed, I've ran my self a bath, gone to my room to get a towel etc and walked past their room, listening to my eldest reading to her sister. It's adorable and it's what theyve settled for .. I offered again to read for them but they said no x

I do read to my child A LOT every day, always have, but I think this might help you...I always read him a book while he is in the bath tub. He plays with his toys, but is still getting to hear a lot more language which is great for development! Sometimes he is interested and sometimes not. But regardless he is still hearing vocabulary that I might not use throughout the day.. and he cant reach the book to rip anything out! Lol

Wow! Thank you all for the responses! Ill deffinately have to try a few od the suggestions and see if they work!

If it makes you feel better I have my doctorate in reading education (and teach teachers about reading instruction) and my daughter has become unbelievably resistant to reading at bedtime. From about 8 months until 20 months she would sit through 2 stories a night. Now she barely makes it through one. (And really- only if it's a short story). And she destroys her books which just hurts every time she rips a book.

My best recommendation would be to try throughout the day (she still lets me do that). I have a lot of interactive books with sounds and lift the flaps etc. There are search and find books that aren't as much of a story but searching for things. Try those and then transition to some full stories. It'll be important for literacy and reading development to have these early experiences with books but don't stress over his resistance at bedtime. Just keep trying!

Maybe books with buttons to push that make sounds. I would just read as much as he'll listen and hopefully his interest will increase with time.

I have 3 kids my two girls loved books but my son he's now 4 and he's not very interested still it's not late to start now but go to Salvation Army, or dollar store and look for books to start with

My DD just started letting me read a whole story for her instead of just turning the pages herself and she's 3.

At 2, I would let her pick a book and we'd look at it together. I'd ask her questions/talk about the images (like "where's the dog?" "look, there is a princess in a castle") and let her decide when it's time to turn the page or even go back. She loved books with detailed colourful images.

I started reading to dd1 the day I brought her home from the hospital. She'll be 3 in April and getting her to sit still to read a book is comical at this point. It's been this way since she turned 2. She's going from the Terrible Twos to the Threenager stage. The puzzle idea is great pp! She received a few for Christmas and has shown some interest in them. I just haven't been able to sit down and do them with her one on one. I'm afraid our one year old twins will turn the pieces into teething toys ??

There are tons of ways to read to your child. One thing for a toddler who is active is to get books with a cd. They're really songs that tell a story and you flip the pages as you go. Another way is to buy books for bath time, books with puppets. Before bed do really short books that can be interactive and cardboard until your child can learn how to handle books.

It's never too late to start and, as a teacher, recommend getting into the habit of reading before school. Lots of good ideas have already been suggested. Board books, cloth books, bath books are harder to destroy so might be a way in. Also libraries often have under 5 reading sessions so they would see how others respond and hopefully join in. If you can have your child holding a book the right way, turning pages correctly from the corner and saying something about the pictures before school they'll have a good start. It's supposed to be fun so find books you like or that you know will interest them. Even at 2 they can express interest in things.

My son adored books in the beginning. As soon as he turned two he turned into a tornado. Can't sit still, can't concentrate, etc.

try puzzles. My son LOVES puzzles. And that's we got him to learn to sit and complete an activity. Then we got him interactive books. Like books that have buttons or books that have flaps (my sons favorite).

He's gotten better but can't expect much from terrible twos!

Read any time of day that you want, there is no wrong time. If you are worried about books being ripped , try board books. You can eave those out for lo to look at whenever they want.

I usually keep reading even if my love looses interest, I figure he can still hear the story and is good for him to hear my voice reading.

Try the library to see what kind of books he likes.

My son is 2 as well and I have tried literally his entire life to read to him. When he was a newborn/infant he'd cry then started taking the books and throwing them, now hell look at a couple pages but want to do it himself. Sometimes I get through a whole board book and there are like 3 books he'll sit through that are short or interactive but for us it's an uphill battle so I guess my advice is to take what you can get and hope for the best that's what i do lol!!! Also try different times of the day

Incorporate it throughout the day. The younger you start the easier it will be.

Use a lot of excitement in your voice. Ask questions about the photos and story.

Has your child watched tv or have a favourite movie? Most children's tv also have books, they will be a big hit.

I read to him at night. I give him one of his picture books while I read something else. At the moment I'm reading Harry Potter

We read throughout the day but not at bed.

@1happiemommie we do that all the time i didnt think about doing it with a book at night or anything though to see if it works.

Maybe have him pick out a "story time buddy" from the toy store to sit with him while you read? Idk my 5m old won't let me read to her either ?

Well that makes me feel better. My son likes to rip books as well so thats why i havent up until this point other than it not crossing my mind

I didn't read to mine either. Here and there we tried, but she would try to rip the pages out. So we didn't bother.