Nursery World - Learning & Development: Resources for under-threes

Snuggle up with a homemade book to lay firm foundations for reading, says Claire Stevenson.

Language is a fundamental element of children's development, and sharing books is an excellent way to support their learning; it is never too early to start.

Babies investigate books using all of their five senses. It is the smell, the sound, the feel, the taste and the look of the book that will initially capture babies' interest, and their sensory exploration will stimulate connections in their brain.

Babies listen to the rhythm of voices and pick up on sounds long before they can understand the words and their meaning. Repetition is an important part of sharing books in order for children to internalise the pattern of speech. Sharing books, stories and rhymes helps children to develop important skills such as talking and understanding language, listening and responding and cultivates imagination and creativity.

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