31 Raring2go! READING Whatever the autumnal weather, there is for me, no greater past-time than reading with your children. Children’s books can echo your activities or take you into other worlds, real or imaginary. They can be the start and end points for games and activities. They can calm children, or whip them into a frenzy. There are many reasons why I really like Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton’s Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam stories, two delightful dogs who happen to love baking - and solving crimes. We meet them first in picture book form, aimed at readers aged 2-5 years, simply rhymed and full of jokes. If you are looking for inside activities their stories might inspire children to recreate their cupcakes or make pop-corn. If you are looking for outdoor activities you might go and and look for ‘Christmas Wood’, or ‘The Pawrient Express’. The books can be read aloud by adults (or older siblings) or you can scan a QR code at the back of the book to access the (free) audio reading, complete with sound effects and original music, so children can listen over and over again. Better still these books age with the child. Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam move on from picture books into early readers with simple chapters. Children who are gaining reading confidence recognise and understand the characters, which will hopefully inspire them to read on - and in turn give them more confidence with that reading. If you are looking for an expedition which involves physical books you can’t do much better than a visit to The Bookshop, East Grinstead, a wonderful independent Bookshop stuffed to the (Tudor) rafters with books - and hot chocolate in the winter, or ice-cream in the summer! The Bluebell Railway is also at the bottom of the town. If you really want to get your children into reading then letting them choose a book is a great start. However, as parents we role model healthy eating, fitness, politeness - but how often do we curl up in a chair and role model reading? Books might inspire activities, or bring each day to a close, but learning to get lost in a book is as important for adults as children. So next time it rains, don’t forget that reading your own book isn’t only a lovely thing to do - it is also an important part of parenting! Helen Scott - The Bookshop, East Grinstead Discover new adventures through reading
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDA0NjA=