The importance of reading to, and with, your child from a very early age can’t be over emphasized. The more your child is exposed to words and enjoys the reading experience the quicker they will learn to read for themselves.

Reading with your child enables you to introduce them to new words and language structures which they will not come across in their everyday interactions. You can explain these words, through reading with your child, and help them to develop an understanding of their meaning. If a child likes the sound and rhythm of these new words or language structures they will, over time, start to use them in conversations with others and during imaginative play.

Reading to, and with, your child is such an important activity, however knowing how to keep it fun and to get the most out of the experiences is not always clear. This is why we are re-running our popular six-week series on ‘Developing and Supporting Your Child’s Reading Journey’

Each week we will look at a different reading skill element, giving example games and activities you can use to support and develop your child through:

• Play
• Drawing/Writing
• Book Sharing
• Talk & Song

‘Developing and Supporting Your Child’s Reading Journey’ Series:

• Week 1. How to develop a child’s interest in books and reading.
• Week 2. Phonological awareness skills required for reading.
• Week 3. Vocabulary development for comprehension.
• Week 4. Print awareness to develop understanding of reading conventions.
• Week 5. Narrative skills to support the understanding of different writing styles.
• Week 6. Letter knowledge.