Today Date Triggered Content

The wait is nearly over! 

Reading is magical – a good story might transport your child to a fantasy land and books can them learn about the world. This month it’s World Book Day, so we thought we’d put all our articles about stories, books and reading in one place.

We’ve been working hard behind the scenes over the past few years, and on the 12th October our very first book made its way out into the world! Featuring 60 easy activities that help parents and carers to support their baby’s physical, cognitive and emotional development.

My First Five Years Baby: Everyday activities to support your baby's development is the first in a new series of books we’re publishing with Bloomsbury. It breaks down the science of child development, explaining how different types of play support their developing skills, alongside 60 activities your baby will love. 

This is a story inspired by the author’s experience as a teacher, seeing children’s lack of confidence in their artistic ability. The author was motivated to help children and adults to explore and discover their creativity – and to put an end to us saying, “I can’t draw!”  

In this story, Vashti doesn’t draw a picture in art class because she says, “I can’t draw.”  

Books can be enjoyed simply anywhere and there is something rather magical about taking a good book outside to enjoy in the forest, by the stream or in the local park. Because reading is fun wherever you do it! We've compiled a list of great books that are perfect for enjoying outdoors. 

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We've gathered some of our favourite books which celebrate the beauty of Earth and give our children (and us) an understanding of how to care for it. This zero waste week, why not see if you can borrow one of these, or another book about our world, from your local library. If that’s not practical for you, you can still enjoy new books without buying new by shopping second-hand, or arranging a book-swap with some friends. 

We’ve been sharing ideas for DIY baby and toddler groups, to use while your usual ones are closed for the summer. This week it's all about stories and rhymes. From singing old favourites to making a game out of reading together we have pulled together ideas that can be adapted for your child’s interests and skills. 

Before you start, decide where you will do your story time group and make sure the space is comfortable and fairly quiet.  

Parenting for Humans is not, like many parenting books, about your child. Instead, it’s described as ‘a book for you as a parent’. It helps you to see that whatever you know or have read, you bring your emotions and experiences to your parenting.  

Dr Emma Svanberg (aka the Mumologist), is an award-winning clinical psychologist, who works with parents, parents-to-be and professionals focusing on how to understand yourself so you can live a more fulfilling life.  

It can feel strange reading books to your newborn baby, and although 95% of parents in a recent survey could see reading was important – just 77% started reading to their child before they were one, and 28% said they don’t find reading to their child easy.^[1]

In this week’s research article, we’re going to look at the benefits of reading to your child whatever their age and give you some ideas for sharing stories together.  

As we've been thinking about reading this week, we're sharing our 50 books to read before you're five again.

There are so many children's books out there and they can be inspiring, joyful, meaningful or simply silly. Our team wanted to share the ones we truly love so you, and your child, can enjoy them too. You can check off each book as you read it, or give it a rating to remind you what you liked (or disliked) most.