February 10, 2015

World Book Day

Fancy Dress for World Book Day 2015

Children today have a wealth of toys, television shows, computer games and electronic gadgets all fighting to occupy their spare time. However, it’s heartening to see that the majority of fictional characters delighting today’s children still start their lives in books.

With so many distractions it’s more important than ever to encourage your children to fall in love with books and reading.

What is World Book Day?

World Book Day is a chance for children to share their passion for books and fiction, the celebration is organised by UNESCO and is held on the 5^th March in the UK. Schools receive resource packs and book tokens to distribute to children. The token can be exchanged at a participating book shop between 2^nd and 29^th March; it enables the child to choose 1 of 8 selected books for free, or alternatively it entitles them to a £1 discount off any book of their choosing. On the day children bring in their books to school and celebrate their favourite characters together.

How can I encourage my child to read?

The focus should be on making reading both fun and accessible to your children –

Designate reading time – reading is often omitted from children’s schedules so it’s not given the priority it deserves. Don’t force your kids to read if they’re tired though, you should encourage children to see reading as a pleasure and not as a chore. Join a library – it can be expensive finding out your child’s preferred style of book. Joining a library will overcome this and will allow your child to freely discover their favourite authors. Bedtime stories – reading to your children is perhaps the best way to encourage them to start reading themselves. Ask them questions to maintain their interest in the story. Types of reading – comics, non-fiction and magazines shouldn’t be seen as inferior. They still involve reading and allow children to improve their skills and confidence. Always have a book at hand – make reading a part of family life and allow children to read whenever possible. Don’t find yourself without children’s books on a long journey or a weekend away. Re-reading – don’t discourage re-reading as it’s great for growing children’s confidence. World Book Day resources - it’s a good idea to speak to your child’s teacher and find out if they’re planning to use any of the resources in class, you’ll then be able to use any of the remaining activities at home.

Fancy Dress & World Book Day

Most schools ask children to arrive at school in fancy dress on or around the 5th March. It immerses the children in their favourite books, and most importantly it encourages children to see reading as a fun hobby.