Well what another fantastic World Book Day we had this year, a big thank you to everyone for making the effort with costumes and donating a book. Our children had a lovely day and it was great to see lots of reading in classrooms and discussions about their favourite books and characters.
As you know we ask our parents, carers and children to read at least three times per week. We know you have busy lives however just a few minutes of reading can make a huge difference!
For our younger children, sharing a book together is fun! It’s a time for closeness, laughing and talking together – and it can also give children a flying start in life and help them become lifelong readers. Here are some tips to help you share a story together;
Ask your child to choose what they’d like to read. They’ll feel more interested in the story if they’ve picked it out themselves.
Sit close together. You could encourage your child to hold the book themselves and turn the pages, too.
Look at the pictures. You don’t just have to read the words on the page. Maybe there’s something funny in the pictures or you can guess what might happen next.
Ask questions and talk about the book. Picture books can be a great way to talk through your child’s fears and worries, or to help them deal with their emotions.
Have fun! There’s no right or wrong way to share a story.
As children get older, with lots of other activities competing for their time, how can you encourage them to make time for reading? Here are some of our ideas:
Read yourself! It doesn’t matter what it is – pick up a newspaper or magazine.
Give books as presents. And encourage your children and their friends to swap books with each other.
Visit the Bingley library together.
Encourage children to carry a book at all times. That way, they’ll never be bored.
Keep reading together. Just because your children are older, it doesn’t mean you have to stop sharing stories.
We hope you find some of these tips and ideas useful.
