Stories

Children gain a lot of enjoyment from stories. They are a powerful tool in teaching your child about the world around them, and extremely beneficial in enhancing your child's speech, language and communication skills. Stories are also an invaluable tool for building general knowledge and understanding.

By sharing a story with your child each day you give them the opportunity to learn new language patterns and become familiar with the art of storytelling. Stories also plant the seed for good writing skills. No doubt all great writers were great readers first!

Some ideas to encourage your child to enjoy stories include:

Setting a regular time each day to ensure daily story time always happens.
Making reading time a comfy and relaxed time for your child.
Providing your child with their own reading corner at home. A play tent and bean bag are a perfect way of creating a cosy and magical story area in your child's bedroom. Enhance the magical theme further by adding string lights, cushions or drapes.
Requesting a library card for your child to encourage reading from a young age.
Planning library visits to provide your child with a range of books which reflect their interests.
Offering a range of books to suit the reading age of your child, including both fiction and non-fiction. Younger children often enjoy picture books, whilst older children may enjoy reading a chapter from a novel each day.
Providing a basket of books or bookcase so books can be arranged attractively and look inviting to the reader.
Encouraging your child to ask questions about the meaning of new and unfamiliar words when you read to them.
Reading slowly, and clearly, pointing to each word as you read, which helps aid word recognition.
Creating a reading log can help inspire your child to read more!