Reading is a vital part of a child’s development in literacy, as well as helping children find a love for picking up that new book. From the moment you enter nursery school and follow the Early Years Foundation Stage, you’ll be immersed into the world of fictional stories and unique creations.

Here in this guide we explore why reading is integral for a child’s development.

It’s a basic building block for learning

In daily life we read to help us understand a project, a rule or what’s been asked of us in school. Picking up those different words and phrases to put together into sentences will help us learn to speak, write and be able to listen to others - all integral skills to help us go through life.

It strengthens a child’s memory

Reading continuously will help your child learn how to remember things and remind themselves of what they’ve learnt. It also helps your child build brain connections, create new ones and talk to others about what they’ve learnt about through the stories they read.

PSHCE - personal, social, health, citizen and economic education - teach your child about being prepared for life. It’s something that many school kids will get to learn about when they’re in school to guide them along their way beyond the subjects they learn and the exams they’ll take.

PSHCE lessons are a big part of many school curriculums, which helps each student learn about what happens beyond school life - a very important next step.

Here we explore what a child will be learning in PSHCE lessons in school.

Health and wellbeing

Children will eventually have to learn to look after themselves. In doing so they don’t need to rely on others for help and support. These lessons will show your child how they can learn to look after themselves, be responsible for their own wellbeing, and what they may need to do if they’re feeling overwhelmed.

Relationships

Being able to build a relationship and make it last would be the next step in a child’s life beyond the classroom. When they are of age they will have to pursue these issues and overcome many life lessons either alone or with their partner. This is where these lessons come in handy, as your child is learning how they can approach these relationships when they happen to them in real life.

Economic support and being a model citizen

There is also the aspect of a salary, taxes, and being a human being that contributes to society. Children will of course naturally learn how to do this through following your own actions at home and you showing them casually how to get into the flow.

It helps your child come to terms with these more difficult tasks if they’re shown how to do them from an early age. It also involves how to protect the environment, how to handle money, setting up bank accounts and other key roles.

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There are heaps of screen free activities you can try out with your child. Not everything has to rely on using a screen to keep your kids entertained, which is why you should always keep a bank of activities ready for those moments. We explore 5 screen free activities as recommended by this prep school in Hertfordshire.

1. A child’s first chores

There are a host of age-appropriate chores for children to explore. They could help you wash your car (even the small efforts they make!) or help you sort through dirty clothes ready to go in the washing machine. Every little helps.

2. Go for a bike ride

Get the bikes out and go for a ride out in the countryside or in your local area with your child. They may know a route already, or you can show them a new area that’s near the home to help them discover somewhere new.