Reading is the key to a child’s future: it unlocks their potential and opens up a world filled with possibilities and, for our poorest children, reading well is their best route out of poverty. In the UK today too many of our children, including 40% of our poorest children, leave primary school without being able to read well. Previously we’ve tried to inspire dads to read more through our Get Dads Reading campaign as well as our ongoing effort to improve the life chances of disadvantaged children through the Children’s Reading Fund, but now we’ve teamed up with Save the Children to launch ‘Read On. Get On.’, the campaign’s mission is to ensure, that by 2025, every child is a confident reader by age 11. You can join and help in a number of ways - firstly, you can find out more about the campaign - sign the petition to get MPs involved, read Viv Bird’s blog and see who’s involved and what will be happening throughout the week. Then, you can have some fun - view our reading pack, view booklists, get tips and take quizzes.
The Facts and Benefits of Reading to Your Child
The time you spend cuddling with your kids, watching them become engrossed in a story told to them from your own lips, is a priceless experience. On top of the sentimental value, more and more studies are proving how beneficial reading with a parent is for developing children.
Building a Bond
While reading is a necessity for learning, it is also one of the best ways to develop bonds with your children. Snuggling up with a book lets the two of you slow down and recaptures that sweet, cuddly time you enjoyed when he was a baby. Instead of being seen as a chore or a task, reading will become a nurturing activity that will bring the two of you closer together.
Secret to Success
In March 2013, the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research introduced research that showed that children four to five years of age who are read to three to five times a week are six months ahead of their peers in terms of reading acumen. Those children who are read to daily are a year ahead of those who are read to less frequently.
A Better Vocabulary
Almost 80 percent of a child’s brain develops before age 5. Kids are sponges when they are little. Say a word in front of them and they repeat it. Read to them, and they hear words that they don’t normally encounter in daily conversation. There is a clear difference between conversing with a child and reading to them. Speech is full of jargon, colloquialisms and truncated sentences. Literature, on the other hand, is much more intricate and therefore vastly more educational. The language in books is very rich, and in books there are complete sentences. In books, newspapers, and magazines, the language is more complicated, more sophisticated. A child who hears more sophisticated words has a giant advantage over a child who hasn’t heard those words.
Dealing With New Situations
Children learn how to handle stress and new experiences from books. Stories are a great way to help children transition from one milestone to another (starting school, moving), or to handle a stressful situation (losing a pet, gaining a new sibling). There are relevant children’s books for almost every situation, and they can really help explain things to children on their level.
Mercury Fact!
The surface of Mercury which faces the Sun sees temperatures of up to 427°C, whilst on the alternate side this can be as low as -173°C. This is due to the planet having no atmosphere to help regulate the temperature.
How to be the Best Storyteller (Ever).
When we share a book with our children we’re doing something very special, and for those few minutes the outside world stops while we read about elephants or pirates or aliens.
Turn off the television or anything that will distract you. Make a cosy spot - a couple of cushions on the floor will do. Be brave and put on silly voices or animal noises and just enjoy doing something together.
Be interested
If you’re reading a story which you find boring or dull, then it’ll show. Instead, choose a book that you love. If you’re not enjoying telling a story it will show in your face and your expression. At the same time choose a book that interests your child as well. If they find it dull, just like you - it will show! Picking a book which you are both interested will help you form a strong bond with your child as it shows them that you have similar interests.
Reading the same book again and again
If your child has a favourite book - it’s because they enjoy it and they want it ‘again, again’. It could be that the cat in the book looks like your cat, or the cat that comes into your garden. It could be that the funny voice you use makes them laugh. It could be the kiss or tickle that they get on page 4. These favourite stories are helping them to learn that books are fun, that literacy is fun and that reading is something they want to do.
Don’t be nervous of reading aloud
Children love spending time with the grown-ups in their lives. They are not critical or judgemental; they just appreciate sharing that time and experience with you. Most of the book-sharing happens in your home when it’s just you and your child/children. There is no one to judge or tell you you’ve said the wrong word or missed a page - although if it’s a book you’ve read before your child might tell you! It is easy to forget that nobody else is watching other than your kids, and you’re fantastic to them. It’s the one time when you can let go a bit and be silly. Don’t worry about making a fool of yourself, the kids will love it anyway!
Talk About Stories
It’s often a good idea to talk about a story you’re reading as it helps to engage the child as well as making sure they are following the story. It also gives them a chance to ask questions. Sometimes children need time to think about stories they’ve read. So don’t be surprised if a day or so later your child mentions something from a story you’ve read.
Venus Fact
Venus is the second brightest object in the night sky and is usually visible by eye. Venus is also the hottest planet in our solar system - the average surface temperature is 462 °C.
Creating A Positive Atmosphere
A home filled with reading material is a good way to help kids become enthusiastic readers. Ask your kids about their interests. If they’re too young to have a preference, your local librarian can offer suggestions about age-appropriate books.
Set aside some time (still need to write this)
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Remove Distractions
Find somewhere quiet without any distractions, this lets your child know that they have your undivided attention. Turn off all technological devices and focus on the reading.
Ask your child to choose a book
By letting your child choose a book it shows that you care what they think and that their opinion matters. They are also more likely to engage with the book because something initially sparked their interest.
Sit close together
Sit close together so that everyone can see the book. Encourage your child to hold the book themselves and/or turn the pages this gives them a role in the storytelling.
Point to the pictures
Pictures act as a great aid to your childs imagination. Point to the pictures if they are illustrating the story and relate them to something your child knows. Ask them to describe the characters, situation or what will happen next. Encouraging them to tell you the story by looking at the pictures helps to develop their imagination.
Encourage talking about the book
Talking about the characters and their dilemmas helps children understand relationships. It is an excellent way for you to get to know each other or discuss difficult issues. Give your child plenty of time to respond. Ask them what will happen next, how a character might be feeling or how the book makes them feel.
Above all - make it fun! It doesn’t matter how you read with your child, as long as you both enjoy the time together.
Earth Fact
Earth is the only planet that has liquid water on its surface. It is also the only planet in the solar system that has life.
Tips from other parents
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Keep reading
Just because they can read doesn’t mean we have to stop reading to them.
Inspiring to you both
Dads should read about something they’re interested in – then they’ll be more passionate and their reading will be more interesting. Equally find something the kids like so they see the purpose of learning to read so they can understand the text/ so they enjoy the text. Ideally find something that inspires both the kids and the Dads.
Break up the reading
Dad reads one page, child reads another... Dad reads the text and child reads the dialogue (really helps improve fluency). Perhaps let the child pick two books; one for them to read to you and one for you to read to them.
Reading should not just be books
Reading isn’t just about books but a wide variety of products which demonstrate different uses and types of language. Kids sometimes get bogged down with a whole book so it’s refreshing to do something shorter with them (eg get them to read segments from a magazine, kids’ picture dictionary, puzzle book, comic book, poems etc).You could let your child choose one article to read and they choose one for you.
Role Model
Children need to see thier parents reading and enjoying books. Your child shouldn’t just see you playing on your phone. When your child see’s you reading it shows how much fun reading can be. You are role model for your child.
Read Harder Books
Reading to your child is a perfect opportunity to read the books that your child may want to read but it may be too hard for them to read alone. Reading something that would be harder than the child’s own reading level allows them to explore topics they can’t yet read about. It promotes discussion.
Fun to read
When the kids are younger I think the key is to have books that are fun to read - I really miss reading Julia Donaldson books to my kids her combination of words and pictures were just great.
A Chapter a night
As they get older reading longer books a chapter each night is great fun and there are loads of great books for that. One thing we did as the kids were getting older was to watch the film of the book after we had read it together (e.g. Harry Potter and Narnia series).
Mars Fact!
Mars is nicknamed the red planet because it is covered with rust-like dust. Mars has the largest dust storms in the solar system - They can last for months and cover the entire planet.
Bedtime Reading
Every child loves a bedtime story: the chance to cosy up to mum or dad and be lulled to sleep with a good book.
There’s something really special about sharing stories at bedtime. The promise of one more story, or the end of last night’s, makes children look forward to bedtime.
Research shows a book at bedtime could help babies learn more quickly, after it was discovered children soak up the most information before they go to sleep.
Bedtime stories create a feeling of security and love. Bedtime books make happy memories that we remember when we’re older. It’s great if the whole family joins in – this shows how much stories and reading matter.
Just by reading aloud to them for ten minutes a day will help them grow into eager, confident learners, acquiring listening skills and gaining new words that are far beyond their reading ability.
Babies and children love routine and rituals.The joy of looking forward to a story makes a bedtime routine so much more fun and exciting. Ending the day with a loving cuddle and a book helps a child wind down ready for sleep.
Babies love the sound of our voices and the rhythm of language. They might not understand the words themselves, but they like how our voices naturally go up and down as we speak. They babble back to us and eventually learn to say words - all because we talk to them.
Stories not only help children learn about the world and themselves, but also to learn about language and how stories and books work. For instance, they learn what a ‘page’ is because we say ‘Shall we turn the page?’ or ‘I wonder what’s on the next page?’
When we talk to children about the pictures in books, we’re giving them the time and opportunity to ask questions about what they see and to make connections with the world. Sharing books with young children is not about ‘teaching them to read’ - it’s about helping them to discover that books are exciting and fun. It feeds their imagination (and interests) so that when the time comes to learn to read they are eager to read stories for themselves.
Jupiter Fact
The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is a huge storm that is three times the size of the Earth!
Encouraging Children to read independently
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Saturn Fact
Encouraging Older Children to Read
As children get older, there’s no need to stop enjoying sharing books and reading together. Research has shown that children who enjoy reading and spend more time reading for pleasure have better reading and writing skills, a broader vocabulary, and even an increased general knowledge and understanding of other cultures. But with so many other activities competing for children’s time as they get older, how can you continue to encourage your child to read for pleasure? Here are some tips for encouraging reading in your home with older children:
Keep reading together
There are lots of books that both adults and young people can enjoy. Try The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, the Harry Potter series, or The Life of Pi by Yann Martel.
Swapping Books
Encourage your children and their friends to swap books with each other - this will encourage them to talk and think about the books they are reading.
Talk about it
Read books you can all talk about but make the talk light-hearted, not testing or over-questioning.
Always carry a book
Encourage children to carry a book at all times so they can read on journeys or in spare moments – you can do this too!
A reading home
Make sure your home is a reading home - have a family bookshelf and make sure there are shelves in your children’s bedrooms as well.
Encourage children to join in
Ask your child to read out a recipe for you as you cook, or the TV listings when you are watching TV.
Ensure that your children see you reading.
It doesn’t matter if it’s the newspaper, a cookery book, a romantic novel, a detective mystery, short stories, a computer manual, a magazine... anything!
Uranus Fact!
Uranus makes one trip around the Sun every 84 Earth years. Uranus is on average the coldest planet with minimum atmospheric temperature of -224°C.
Libraries (why they are great!)
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The stories come to life
Maybe in your mind the library is an eerily quiet place with lots of shushing. But today’s youngest library patrons engage -- with books and magazines, with librarians, and with other kids. Most libraries offer regular children’s programs that make stories come to life. (Think puppets, costumes, and animated storytellers.) And often this magic happens in cozy corners where kids flop down on big pillows and bean-bag chairs.
No budget!
Sure, you can take your kids to the children’s section of a nearby bookstore -- and you should! But if you’re like most of us, you’re on a budget and you have to cap their spend. But at the library, you can haul out as much as you can carry, turn your books back in as soon as they’re read, and take home a whole new pile.
Further, the “casual discovery” nature of a library -- browsing the stacks without pressure to buy -- allows kids to be serendipitous. There’s no predicting what might catch their fancy, but, whatever it is, they can “test drive” it at low risk.
Teaches responsibility
As card-carrying library patrons, young kids learn about treating with care things that belong to others. When a kid checks out books in his own name, he feels trustworthy. He feels responsible. He feels more like a member of his community. A child’s first library card is an early rite of passage.
Broaden their tastes
Your local children’s librarian can recommend books that you may not know of or think to suggest, broadening their tastes and expanding their minds and vocabularies.
Neptune Fact
Neptune is one of the four “gas giants”. Like Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus, it is composed only of gas. Neptune is a great ball of hydrogen and helium. It takes Neptune 165 of our Earth years to orbit the Sun.
