National Share A Story Month

National share-a-story month is a celebration that takes place once every year. It is a great way to highlight how important reading to children can be and it doesn’t have to be boring for parents either!

Now you may be thinking, reading to my children is just a way to send them off to sleep. But what if I told you that there are so many more benefits to reading to them.

The benefits of reading to children

Reading to your children at least once a day (if you’re able to) will allow them to widen their vocabulary and perform better academically. It will also allow them to let their imaginations run wild and this will support them to develop their creativity skills for the future. Maybe you’re thinking, well my children will never sit still when I try to read to them. A good tip is to have a routine of when you want to read with them. Before bedtime when they are calm and relaxed is a great way to help them become more engaged with listening to you reading to them. Reading to your child also builds a strong relationship. Which is really important, especially if you’re a parent who is unable to see your child often. It’s a great way to spend quality time together!

There are over 21,000 different children's books out there. All with different stories, pictures and genres. It’s important as a parent to find out what your child enjoys reading. There is a book out there for everyone. As Frank Serafini once said “There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book”.

How can you get involved this month?

National share-a-story month, which is organised by the The Federation Of Children's Book Groups who are running a number of events and competitions, is a great month to get involved in reading to your children and sharing some of your own childhood stories! Maybe you remember reading the same book a couple of times because you loved it so much, I myself am guilty of this! Or maybe you have a funny story to share with your family about something you read when you were younger. Children will love hearing about your own childhood memories that you had when reading because it will really help them understand that reading can be fun.

A fun activity that can get you involved this month is switching the roles around. So instead of you reading to your child, let them pick out a book and read to you (if they are able to). Another great way you could get involved would be to create a reading space, by getting some pillows and blankets together and building a little fort for you and your child or family to all read together in.