Enrich a child's language skills by talking about books, say Claire Bates and Helen Roscoe, Suffolk County Council Early Years and Childcare Service

Is anything lovelier than snuggling up with a book with a child or small group of children? We all really value those times, be it with our own children, or those in our care in our setting. But are we getting the most out of our book times with children, and is this scenario being reflected in the homes of all our children?

When most adults share a book with a child, they read and the child listens. There is definitely a place for enjoying the rhythm of a familiar story and delighting in the flow of the text, but children also need opportunities to be actively involved in the story, to hypothesise, explore, question, reflect, and empathise.

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