This year National Share a Story Month is focusing on “A Feast of Stories” for 2024
Sharing stories together is one of the many joys of being a parent, but it can sometimes feel that there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Spending just 10 minutes a day reading and sharing stories can:
- increase your child’s self-esteem
- boost creativity and imagination
- help your child to feel nurtured, safe and important
- teach you and your child about different places and cultures
- start conversations about feelings and emotions
- create nurturing and bonding time for parents and siblings with your baby or toddler
- helps your child become a lifelong reader
Children who were read to regularly by their parents at age five performed better in maths, vocabulary and spelling tests at age 16 than those who were not helped in this way. Children often have a favourite story they want to hear again and again. This helps them to learn the word order and link the written word to the story – which are the first steps in learning to read!
Download the National Share a Story Month list of books to get your started.
Download the Feast of Stories pack
National Literacy Trusts Book Sharing Tips (available in 18 different languages)
- Talk about the book’s cover and point out the title.
- Let your child hold the book and turn the pages.
- Encourage them to talk about the pictures.
- Use different voices for different characters. Add in sound effects like splashing in puddles, beeping car horns or animal sounds.
- When the story is finished, you could ask them if they liked it and if they had a favourite character.
- Make a den together, like a cloth over a table, with space for both of you to share. You can make your den part of the story – it could be a monster’s cave, a rocket ship, or a princess’ tower.
- Talk to your child about what you did as a child. Involve the whole family – grandparents may have stories to share from when they were growing up!
Joining your local library opens up a world of books to share with your child
Books can be expensive, especially when they are little so joining the library is a great way to keep your stories fresh and fun. Joining the library couldn’t be easier:
- Download and complete the library application form. Alternatively, you can ask for a copy of the form in any of our libraries or join online through Enterprise.
- Bring your completed form along to any of our libraries, along with proof of your full name and current address. One official document is the minimum proof required.
You will then be given a library card, and will be able to borrow items straight away.
VIDEO BOOKS & ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY TOGETHER
Take ten minutes to share stories with your little ones. The Share A Story Corner videos have familiar characters and easy to follow stories, and tips for reading together. Look at the pictures together, guess what the characters are up to and ask your child what they think will happen next. Your child will soon be asking to read together again and again!
It’s never too early to read stories with your child and spending just ten minutes every day enjoying books together can make a BIG difference to their development. Sharing stories boosts creativity and imagination, improves wellbeing, is a positive experience for parents, carers, guardians, grandparents – everyone! – and is great fun!
You can also buy all the books here on the Bookshop.org page.
Are you a Share a A Story Reading Star?
The fun Share A Story Reading Star game has been created to encourage you to enjoy books and reading together at home and all the exciting ways you can share stories – not just at bedtime! Tick off a Reading Star each time you complete a reading task and have fun reaching all your stars!
