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    • Apr 8, 2020

It's Story Time!

This is another anytime, anywhere activity. Children of all ages love story time and it's a wonderful opportunity for you and your child to spend time together.


For Babies

Have you noticed how engaged your baby becomes when you talk to them and communicate with them? They are never too young for you to share stories with them and the great thing about reading aloud is that it doesn't take special skills or equipment, just you, your baby, and some books. Read aloud for a few minutes at a time but do it often. Don't worry about finishing entire books, focus on pages that you and your baby enjoy.



For Toddlers

Being a toddler is all about action, and getting children of this age to sit and listen to a story may be challenging. You can read to your child throughout the day and encourage their enjoyment of stories and books. When your toddler becomes tired and perhaps needs a rest or nap you could create a cosy area and have a cuddle and share a story then. Just a few things to remember...

  • Don't expect your toddler to sit still for a whole book, its ok to not sit for a story

  • Recite rhymes, sing songs, and make mistakes. Listen as your child corrects you when you get it wrong

  • Choose engaging books and be prepared to read a favourite book over and over again

  • Keep reading times short, use simple stories often and throughout the day

  • Encourage play that involves naming, describing, and communicating

And remember: every day is an adventure when you're a toddler.



For Preschoolers

For this age group as well as the ongoing enjoyment of stories and special time with you, stories can…

  • Help your child get to know sounds, words and language, and develop early literacy skills

  • learn to value books and stories

  • spark your child's imagination and stimulate curiosity

  • help your child's brain, social skills and communication skills develop

They will also enjoy telling you their own stories, making them up and improvising as they go along.



One of the children's favourite books at nursery is The Gruffalo, and we know someone else who loves this book as much as the children... Jordan from our Alvaston nursery! And he's sent us a very special video of him reading the story for all the children at home... so get comfortable and settle down for 'story time with Jordan!'


If you have the book at home why not dig it out and read along with him?



You can find lots more read aloud stories online, here are just a few:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75NQK-Sm1YY

How The Tiger Got His Stripes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf7ascNGbcM


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