What are the benefits of reading with my child?

• Children of any age can benefit from reading books every day
• It can help their reading, their writing and their maths and give them a head start at school
• Reading when they are older helps to build language skills as they meet new words that they can then use themselves
• Sharing stories can promote young children's motor skills, through learning to turn the pages, and it helps their memory
• Reading stories also improves children's social skills and their emotional development. Children can use stories to help them learn about new things and cope with problems. They have role models in the stories that show them ways of coping with their own problems

The Reading agency say - "Did you know that reading for pleasure is more important to a child's educational achievement than their family's wealth or social class? A major study of reading (Reading for change, OECD, 2002) came up with this powerful conclusion. Did you also know that just twenty minutes spent reading with your child significantly improves his or her reading? Twenty minutes every day or twenty minutes once or twice a week - it will make a difference."

How can I get some tips on reading with my child?

We've put together some handy hints to help you.  These are available to download at the right of this page.