Words by Smiley Team
BookTrust’s Time to Read campaign supports transition to primary school for 740,000 children in England and Northern Ireland
Today, BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity launches its fifth annual Time to Read campaign which aims to get children and families reading together.
From September through to January 2021, BookTrust will be sending out Time to Read packs to every reception child in England and every primary one child in Northern Ireland, reaching a total of 740,000 children.
For children aged 4-5, starting school for the first time means establishing new routines at home and often learning to read and tasks set by school can be prioritised over reading for fun. Time to Read is designed to encourage families to relax and continue reading together at this critical transition point in their lives.
This year, the Time to Read pack includes a free copy of The Runaway Pea by Kjartan Poskitt and Alex Willmore, published by Simon and Schuster, alongside top tips about how reading can be done anytime and anywhere.
With creative ideas for sharing stories as a family, the pack aims to spark children’s imagination, help improve their language and listening as well as develop more practical skills such as making new friends and dealing with change. Reading together regularly as a family can also create a safe space for children to express themselves, something that children might be especially in need of following the coronavirus outbreak.
BookTrust is working in partnership with local authorities in England and the Education Authority in Northern Ireland to distribute Time to Read packs through schools and libraries, helping to connect communities and encourage them to share stories throughout the autumn term.
Alongside the book packs, during the week 19-25 October 2020, BookTrust will be sharing videos of popular picture book readings, top tips for how to get children reading as well as other book recommendations that we know children will love at this time.
"We know that families have faced many challenges these past few months, adjusting to a different way of life with schools, nurseries and libraries being closed. However, many parents and carers have told us that they have found more time to read and enjoy stories with their children during lockdown" Diana Gerald, BookTrust’s Chief Executive said.
"Sharing a book is about so much more than simply reading a story together. It creates a wonderful closeness, and it’s also an opportunity to talk about the themes in the book, whether that’s starting a new adventure, making friends, or simply learning to be brave."
"It is so easy to stop the bedtime story or other shared reading once children can read for themselves, but that magical time doesn’t just help engage children in stories and reading; it also relaxes them, helps them understand the world around them, and often stimulates important conversations about what’s going on in their lives. We hope that Time to Read will encourage families to enjoy the benefits of reading together as their children adjust to new routines.”
There are a whole host of ways to support BookTrust and their mission to get children reading including through one-off or regular donations, fundraising or taking part in a challenge. You can find out more by heading to BookTrust.org.uk
