School Readiness Programme: I like reading stories and looking at pictures in books

Reading at any and every age helps your child to develop literacy skills. However, children over the age of 3 can learn and understand key literacy learning aspects – all by learning through play.

It has been proven that an early understanding of music, rhythm and rhyme for children contribute to an enhanced literacy and mathematical development. At Kiddi Caru Day Nurseries Group we encompass all these learning aspects by training all our qualified staff in Boogie Mites. Therefore, we are able to carry out a range of sessions every day with our 3 year olds and preschool children to help to develop their literacy skills through music.

The following books are some of our nursery favourites to introduce the children to the learning aspects, set out by the EYFS, to prepare them for school and beyond!

Aspect 1: Environmental Sounds

Encouraging children to tune into the sounds of the environment and make the connection between the sound and the source of the sound throughout the story. For example, hearing tweeting and understanding that it comes from a bird in the trees.

You can take this one step forward by reading the stories outside to see if your child can identify the sound in their natural environment.

Walking Through the Jungle – Julie Lacome

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – Michael Rosen

Aspect 2: Instrumental Sounds
Developing your little one’s understanding of sounds created by musical instruments. Why not see if you have house hold items that can replicate the instruments in the book? Ask you child to make the noises as you read to help solidify their understanding of instrumental sounds.

Animal Music – Julia Donaldson

Aspect 3: Body Percussion
Including body sounds, such as clapping and stomping your feet to the beat of the story. This can be lots of fun! Why not try to find nursery rhymes that you can find the beat to as well?

Doing the Animal Bop – Jan Ormerod

Aspect 4: Rhythm and Rhyme
Rhythm and rhyme contribute to memory – that’s why you can recall every word to your favourite song as a child, even in your adulthood or when you can’t get a song out of your head!

Giraffes Can’t Dance – Giles Andrae

Hairy Maclary – Lynley Dodd

Room on the Broom and The Gruffalo – Julia Donaldson

The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle

Aspect 5: Alliteration
Focusing on the initial sounds of words and what makes them sound similar. This will also encourage your child to explore the sounds they can make and the muscles needed to differentiate between the similar words.

Funny Bones – Janet and Alan Ahlberg

Pass the Jam Jim – Kay Umanski

Aspect 6: Voice Sounds
Playing around with your voice with your little one is great fun! Also, it allows your child to understand the range of sounds they can make, such as how making your voice low and making your voice quiet is different.

Owl Babies – Martin Waddell