Hull City Council is encouraging families to read to their pre-school children to help them be prepared for school, with a range of free resources available.
It is never too early to start enjoying books with your child, and reading from an early age helps to give them the best possible start in life.
Sharing a book is fun and a time for closeness, laughing and talking together, and helps children’s wellbeing, imagination, as well as social and emotional developmental skills. Reading strengthens the bond with children and helps them become confident, happy learners who are ready for school.
Councillor Peter Clark, Portfolio Holder for learning, skills and safeguarding children said: “If you read to your children often, you are exposing them to a wide range of language and vocabulary, which will help them with language development, communication, thinking and listening skills.
“We want children starting school to be confident, ready and happy to learn, and just a few minutes of reading each day can have a big impact on them being ready for school. If you read one book a day to your child, they will have read 1825 books by the time they are five.”
Aimee, Sophie and Nicki from Little Stars Children’s Centre provide some tips and ideas for developing reading and writing skills in pre-school children –
There is no right or wrong way to read with your child, but the BookTrust has some tips to make reading fun; such as talking about the pictures, using noises, funny voices and props.
All families can get free multi-sensory Bookstart packs from their health visitor, library or nursery, borrow books for free from Hull’s libraries, or there are some great books online with the BookTrust.
Any families who have a two year old in Hull can sign up for a free book each month, through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library scheme.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library
