Why it matters - sharing stories

Why sharing rhymes, stories, and books matters!

A parents’ guide to sharing rhymes, stories and books: how you can help your child to do well at school.

“A community who live and learn together”

Why does sharing rhymes, stories and books matter?

Sharing rhymes and stories creates a special bonding time for you and your child:   

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It helps your child learn new words.

It helps your child become a good listener.

It prepares your child for learning to read and for future success in school.

It introduces your child to new ideas and experiences.

It is a calming activity that makes parenting easier.

And most of all… it is fun for both of you!

Rhymes:

Experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if a child knows eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they are four years old, they are usually among the best readers and spellers in their class by the time they are in Year 3.

Stories: Maybe you know a fairy story like Goldilocks and the Three Bears that you could tell your child, or have a story about something that happened in your family that they would like to hear. Repetition is important, tell the same story over and over again. Children may like to make up their own story too.

Books: Choose lots of different books - picture books, story books, pop up books, ‘touch and feel’ books, books about cars and animals…

Catalogues and magazines are good to share too. Choose books from different cultures, or in your home language.

How to share a book:  

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Read the same book over and over again.

Point to the pictures or words to show your child what it is you are talking about.

Encourage your child to turn the pages one at a time.

Try using funny voices, animal noises, regional accents Use sounds that go with the pictures like “choo choo went the train”. These are easier for your child to copy, and help your child understand the meaning of the words.

Let your child pretend to be the teacher, and tell the story to you.

Enjoy sharing the book, and remember that it’s the best investment you can make in your child’s future success at school.

Make your own book: Children like a book about them! Draw pictures or use photographs to tell a story, add a few words and then read it together. You could make a book about a trip to Morrisons, or about a special day out or a holiday.

Bedtime or anytime: Books and stories are great for bedtime, they can help establish a bedtime routine and calm your child before they go to sleep. Stories are great at other times too, maybe after school when you have a new library book. You can read other things too with your child, like street names, shop signs or supermarket notices.

Use the library: As well as our school book library which is open every day, we also have a lending library open all day on Wednesdays. There are also public libraries in Girlington, Manningham and in the city centre.

Libraries often have special story telling sessions for children - call into the library to find out more.

Where the public libraries are: Manningham Library Carlisle Road Bradford BD8 8BB 01274 435353

Day

Opening times

Monday

9.30am -7.00pm

Tuesday

9.30am - 7.00pm

Wednesday

9.30am - 7.00pm

Thursday

9.30am - 7.00pm

Friday

9.30am - 4.00pm

Saturday

9.30am - 4.00pm

Sunday

12 noon - 4.00pm

Girlington Library - now closed.

01274 435353

City Library City Park Bradford BD1 1SD

Manningham

01274 433600

Girlington

Day

Opening times

Monday

9.00am - 7.00pm

Tuesday

9.00am - 7.00pm

Wednesday 9.00am - 7.00pm City Park

Thursday

9.00am - 7.00pm

Friday

9.00am - 5.00pm

Saturday

9.00am - 5.00pm

Rhyme Times on Wednesday morning at 10.00am Story Times on Saturday mornings at 11.00am

Favourite books: Children like all sorts of books! Parents told us in February 2014, that their children’s favourite books include books about animals, books about cars, fairy tales such as Cinderella, Goldilocks and Snow White, Disney books as well as children’s classics such as Bears in the Night, Elmer, the Gruffalo and Peppa Pig. Some children enjoy books in their home language (Polish or Slovakian) best. One parent said their child’s favourite book was a home made book. Lots of children didn’t have a favourite book, and one child’s favourite was their current library book!

True or false?

You don’t need to start sharing books with children until they can talk.

False Babies are never too young to enjoy sharing books Even tiny babies enjoy stories and rhymes. Sharing books with babies and toddlers is a great way to help them learn about their world, and talking about the pictures will help your child begin to talk.

Try to make time to enjoy books every day – you can share books anywhere, anytime and a bedtime story is a lovely way to end the day

True or false?

Anyone can share books with a child.

True Grandparents, older sisters or brothers and friends can all share books with your baby or toddler. It helps to develop relationships as well as helping your child to develop language. Sharing a book with a younger brother or sister also helps older children develop their reading skills.

True or false?

You need a book to tell a story.

False One morning after he woke up, my son asked, "Mum, what did my SpongeBob characters dream about last night?" (He has stuffed characters from that cartoon that he sleeps with at night).

Well, of course I had to ask him to repeat the question just to make sure I had heard him correctly, and to buy some time to come up with something in my head. Sure enough, he asked me the same question again. Indeed, there was no escaping the fact that I had to suddenly become a story teller. So there I was, making up stories about what the characters dreamt about last night...and he loved it! And that is how story telling without books came into our lives.�

You can tell all sorts of stories to children without a book - stories about your family, about your child, a well known tale like Cinderella or a story about a favourite character like SpongeBob. Children will be happy to hear you making it up - just give it a go!

True or false?

It is good for children to have the same story or book over and over again.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

True Children learn through repetition. Although adults may tire of the same book, young children need to hear the same story many times to fully understand it. Hearing a story over and over also helps toddlers learn about the sound, meaning, rhythm, and tone of words. You may even find that your toddler enjoys practising how to read a book. He or she may sit down with a favourite story and “read� it to a favourite stuffed animal or doll.

True or false?

Children get confused if they have stories in more than one language.

False It is widely accepted that the role of the first language in the child’s learning is of great importance. Children need to develop strong foundations in the language that is dominant in the home environment, where most children spend most of their time. This includes sharing rhymes, stories and books in a child’s home language.

Bilingualism is an asset, and a child’s first language has an important role in learning and the acquisition of additional languages such as English.

True or false?

Books with text are better than books without.

False Books without any text enable children to explore the world within their own imagination and make connections to characters and events they see in the pictures.

True or false?

You need to be able to read to share books.

False You don’t need to be able to read the text to talk about the pictures and enjoy the story. Young children can share stories with each other, and adults who can’t read can share stories with children.

True or false?

Children who share stories and books at home do better at school.

True Sharing books at home helps your child become a confident and eager learner even before they start school .

Numerous studies have shown that students who are exposed to stories, rhymes and books before from an early age are more likely to do well in all areas of education.

They have better concentration levels so when they start school they will be able to listen to the teacher, and concentrate on what is being said more easily. Storytelling also teaches children to love stories, which then helps when they are learning to read later on.

This booklet is based on ideas suggested by parents and staff at our Better Together day.

St Edmund’s Nursery School and Children’s Centre, Washington Street, Girlington, Bradford BD8 9QW Tel: 01274 543282 www.stedmundsbradford.org.uk