Reading for life Babies are born to be sociable. They love to communicate and interact with their carers. Talking and listening to young children from the earliest age helps them to develop good language and communication skills, which enables them to express themselves, listen, learn, read, write and socialise better.
When adults take time to communicate with young children, it makes them feel valued and builds their confidence. With seventy-five per cent of brain development occurring in the first two years of life, it is never too early to start providing the stimulation and attention that babies need.
Here are some Reading for Life ideas on talking to children in everyday situations.
- Talk about what you are doing as you carry out everyday activities, such as feeding or bathing your grandchild, or changing their nappy.
- Everything is new and interesting for your grandchild. Point out all the things you can see around you – the photos in your room, the trees in the park or the cars passing by on the road.
- Look at your grandchild as you chatter. This shows them how much you value them and it helps them to focus on your words, tone, expressions and movement.
Create a family history with your grandchildren
Why not create a family history with your Grandchildren by trying out some of the following ideas:
1. Find out more about the people in your family: their jobs, hobbies, friends and the places, people and things they love.
2. Record all the information you gather by using photos, videos, recordings and scribblings to make an interesting keepsake that your family will want to keep and add to as time goes on.
3. Get all the family involved. Give each person a whole page or section and give everyone free choice for what they want included on their pages.
4. Get creative and use different ways of showing the things you love doing, through writing, cartoons, sketches, collage…
For more fun ideas for things to do with your Grandchildren visit www.readingforlife.org.uk.