Sylvia Briscoe, Romsey Mill's Pre-school Coordinator, talks about the significance of reading with children in their early years.

Sylvia says:

"The importance of books and reading can never be over emphasised. 

You can never introduce books to children too early.  Through listening to adults talking, reading stories and saying rhymes a young child learns sounds, words and vocabulary.

Here at Romsey Mill Pre-school, there is always a wide choice of books available for children to choose from throughout every session. These range from simple board or fabric books to fictional stories and factual reference books. 

In addition, each of our Pre-school sessions ends with group story-time with the children all together. Sometimes a familiar story will be read, and the children enjoy joining in with familiar phrases, for example, “There’s a shark in the park!”.

Alternatively, we may be reading a completely new story and the children sit engrossed listening to what will happen next." 

Reading to a child encourages concentration and listening skills.

According to Sylvia, there are also other important benefits for children that come from reading together and listening to stories.

Sylvia says:

"Reading to a child encourages concentration and listening skills. 

During our pre-school sessions, the children can freely handle and choose any books. Through interaction with adults and peers reading together, they learn to respect books and how to handle them properly, for example holding the book the right way up and then turning the pages.

Romsey Mill’s Pre-school also runs a ‘library’ where the children are encouraged to borrow a book to take home to share with their family."