When my children were younger, I could hardly pass a book shop without going in and buying a book (or two or three!)
But remember that your local library is also a fabulous and affordable option for exposing your children to the wonder of books.
As a child, I can recall many a wonderful memory of visiting the library with my siblings and parents at the end of a week, and no matter how many books your home is filled with, I would always encourage regular visits to your library – they are one of the most magical places on earth!
Children’s picture books are fabulous in so many ways. They:
- open your child’s mind to the world of imagination
- stimulate your child’s language with exposure to new sentences and vocabulary
- encourage engagement with rhyming (one of the earliest pre-reading skills)
- provide an opportunity to develop your child’s verbal memory by helping them to recall details from the story
- raise awareness of print concepts – orientation of the book, title of the story, how a story includes a beginning, middle and end
- encourage fine motor skills with page-turning
- build a beautiful bond between the child and the reader through shared book reading
- can facilitate concentration skills
- may assist in calming your child before bedtime
- introduce concepts – such as eating vegetables!
