Children Ultimately Learn to Love Books Because They Are Sharing It with Someone They Love

Bedtime Bear.

As a whole school we are focusing on developing a love of stories, books and reading in our children and what better way to do this than with a bedtime story. For children of this age sharing a story at bedtime is the perfect way to show them that reading is fun, enjoyable and by reading or looking at books together you are showing them that reading is important and something that you value. The benefits for both you and your child in regularly sharing a bedtime story and enormous and have been extensively researched, as a quick google search will show!!! But I think one professor summed it up best when he said…

"Children ultimately learn to love books because they are sharing it with someone they love,"

So this challenge is not about your child developing their own skills in reading words but is about enjoying books together and setting them on the path towards a lifelong love of reading.

So what’s the challenge?

Very soon the children will get a visit from Bedtime Bear who will bring some books and a challenge to enjoy as many bedtime stories as they can (Don’t worry we won’t let them use this as an excuse to stay up late!). Each time you and your child enjoy sharing a book together (a book from home, a book from a friend, borrowed from the library or their school library book) give your child one of the tokens in this pack and they can stick it onto Bedtime Bear’s Challenge sheet when they arrive at school. If you have time it would be great if you could write the book title on the token. Bedtime bear will also be visiting your child during the challenge to join you for a bedtime story. Don’t worry he is a very tidy bear and will bring everything he needs with him for the 1 night stay.

TOP SECRET INFORMATION

PLEASE DO NOT TELL YOUR CHILD THIS YET AS WE WANT IT TO BE A SURPRISE!

When it is time for Bedtime Bear to leave at the end of the challenge he will be inviting you and your child (brother and sisters also welcome) to come to school for a very special bedtime story. We will be sharing hot chocolate and biscuits for a special supper and snuggling up on cushions and blankets to share a bedtime story together to say goodbye to Bedtime Bear. So that you can keep the date free we are letting you know this top secret information.

The Big Bedtime Story will be on Thursday 7th December, 5:30pm-6:00pm

Dress code: dress for bed! Pyjamas, nighties, onesies, dressing gowns, whatever you like to wear for bed then after story you can head straight home bed!!!

We hope you and your child enjoy taking part in this very worthwhile reading challenge.