Storytime has a special kind of magic. Whether it happens in our nursery reading corner, in the garden under a tree, or at home before bed, it brings connection and imagination into a child’s day.
The power of storytime
Reading to children is a great source of bonding but it’s also crucial for children’s learning and development. They help children understand emotions, relationships and experience the world through someone else’s viewpoint.
As your child hears different stories, they have the opportunity to identify with different characters, and their empathy grows. You can take a moment to ask them what they think of the story (if they are old enough). This will help them further connect to the characters and understand how certain situations can impact their emotions. This will also help them start identifying more emotions in real life.
Building literacy early on
Storytime also lays the groundwork for early literacy, even before children can recognise letters or read words. For babies, hearing stories builds listening and attention. The rhythm of a voice, the repetition of familiar sounds and the warmth of being held while listening all help them connect language.
Toddlers begin to join in with words they know, copy sounds and notice pictures that match what they hear. As children grow older, they start to spot patterns and predict what comes next, which builds memory and understanding of how stories work.
Turning pages, looking at pictures and talking about what they see are all early reading behaviours. Long before they pick up a book themselves, they are already becoming readers through these shared experiences.
Lighting up those listening skills
Reading to children also strengthens communication skills in many natural ways. When they listen to stories, they hear how sentences flow, how questions are asked and how voices change with emotion. These experiences help them understand tone, rhythm and expression in speech.
Listening to stories also improves concentration and focus. Following a simple storyline, remembering characters and waiting to hear what happens next encourage children to listen carefully and stay engaged. This builds attention span and helps prepare them for more structured learning later on.
Creating positive reading experiences
When children associate reading with fun and comfort they begin a relationship with books that can last a lifetime and that’s more important than ever before with so many digital options out there to pull children away from books. At nursery, storytime is one of our favourite times. We read together in groups and also encourage quiet one-to-one reading moments. Familiar stories help children feel safe, while new stories introduce them to fresh ideas and adventures.
At home, parents can build on this love for reading by keeping books visible and within reach, letting children choose what to read, and creating small moments of shared storytelling. Even ten minutes a day helps build confidence. Storytime teaches children far more than words on a page. It helps them step into new worlds and imagine their own.
When to read?
Lunchtime, bedtime, bath time, on the train, on the bus, in the park, when you’re in the GP’s waiting room. Just about any time is a good time for a story! You can make books part of your daily routine, take them with you to share and enjoy with your children.
Knowing when to stop can be just as important as finding the time to share a story in the first place. Pay attention to your child’s reaction to the story, and stop if your child isn’t enjoying it. To keep the love of reading going, they have to love what they are listening to.