Keeping the Pages Turning: Why Reading to Your Children During Nursery Holidays is Crucial

As the school bell rings and nurseries close their doors for the holidays, parents are presented with a unique opportunity to play an even more pivotal role in their child's development. One simple yet immensely impactful way to ensure continuity in your child's growth is by maintaining the reading routines even during the break. There are many reasons why parents should embrace the role of storyteller during nursery holidays, emphasising the enduring benefits of this cherished tradition.

 

Consistency is Key:

Children thrive on routines, and disruptions, even short ones like holiday breaks, can affect their sense of stability. Reading to your children during nursery holidays provides a comforting thread of consistency, reassuring them and maintaining a sense of normalcy amidst the changes.

 

Language Reinforcement:

Nursery is a hub of language development, and parents can carry this momentum forward by continuing to read to their children during the break. Exposure to a diverse range of words and sentence structures through books enhances language skills, contributing to a richer vocabulary and improved communication abilities.

 

Cognitive Stimulation:

Reading is a powerful tool for cognitive stimulation. It engages a child's mind, promotes critical thinking, and enhances concentration. By incorporating reading into the holiday routine, parents can ensure that their child's cognitive development remains active and thriving, setting the stage for a smooth return to nursery.

 

Quality Bonding Time:

Holidays are the perfect time for quality family moments. Reading together not only nurtures a child's love for books but also creates cherished memories and fosters a strong emotional bond. It's an opportunity to slow down, escape into magical worlds together, and share the joy of storytelling.

 

Preventing the "Summer Slide":

The concept of the "summer slide" is well-known, where students can lose academic progress over extended breaks. While nursery holidays may be shorter, maintaining reading routines helps prevent any potential regression in early literacy skills, ensuring that children return to nursery with their learning momentum intact.

 

Introduction to New Ideas and Cultures:

Holidays often provide families with the time to explore new books that introduce children to different ideas, cultures, and perspectives. This exposure broadens their understanding of the world, fostering curiosity and empathy.

 

 

In the hustle and bustle of nursery holidays, the simple act of reading to your children becomes a beacon of stability and growth. It is a gift that keeps on giving, offering not just educational benefits but also creating lasting bonds and memories. So, as the nursery doors close temporarily, open the doors to new worlds through books, and let the pages continue to turn in the story of your child's development.

 

How Polylino can help:

Polylino is delighted to offer as part of the subscription, access to ‘Home Access’ to all nurseries in the UK.  For individuals whose children do not attend a Polylino-subscribed nursery, Home Access is also available to purchase on an individual basis – benefiting parents and childminders alike.

 

Accessing Polylino at home offers children, and their parents, the opportunity to access over 650 books in more than 65 languages at the touch of a button.

 

The platform features books to suit all tastes and interests.  Alongside stories, it features non-fiction, rhyming poetic texts and nursery rhymes helping to support the teaching of English in the Early Years and Key Stage One. 

 

To try Polylino for free, please visit here.