In the midst of the cold winter,
there are few things better than
curling up with a good book.  
Spending several minutes a day
reading together is a great break from
the hustle and bustle of a busy day.
It is also the perfect New Year’s
resolution – spend more time
reading together as a family. 

A few minutes spent reading aloud together every day will have many positive benefits for both parents and children. It’s a time to talk about things, to stretch imaginations, to have a cuddle and to really get to know each other. The magic of reading together also brings a wealth of education benefits – awareness of sounds, development of reading and speaking skills, listening skills… the list goes on. 

Reading aloud every day doesn’t need to take up much time.  Find a few minutes every day and enjoy different books. Choose books together that the whole family can enjoy. Experts say that we need to have 1000 stories read to us before we learn to read. It might sound like a lot, but if we read 3 books a day for a year, we’re on the right track. 

A love of reading starts when we love what we’re reading. Find that special book that you and your children want to read again and again. Start reading early, make it part of your routine, and you’ll be giving a child a gift that lasts forever. 

Scottish Book Trust’s Early Years Programme, Bookbug, gifts books to babies, toddlers, three year olds and all children in Primary One. For more information and more book sharing tips, visit bookbug online at the Scottish Book Trust website.