As part of our World Book Day celebrations, Liverpool City Council has launched an exciting new project to help parents make Storytime even more engaging and enjoyable.
“Tell Me a Story, Liverpool” is a unique pilot programme delivered in partnership with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and the Dollywood Foundation, an organisation founded by Dolly Parton to inspire children to achieve educational success.
This initiative is designed to support parents with practical tips and guidance to become expert storytellers. As part of the programme, participating families will receive free books, generously provided by the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
Health professionals, including health visitors and family nurses, highlight the many benefits of reading with young children. Storytime helps build self-esteem, supports speech and vocabulary development, sparks imagination, and can even improve sleep patterns.
Through this initiative, up to 100 families across the city will gain valuable insights into the importance of books and storytelling in their child’s development. Each participating family will receive a book every month for at least the next three years, fostering a lifelong love of reading.
All families with children aged 0-5 can also benefit from the ‘BookStart’ programme, which encourages shared reading from an early age. Find out more here: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/programmes-and-campaigns/bookstart/?gad_source=1
Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, said “Reading to your child helps to build a life-long love of reading. I am so pleased that families will have the opportunity to discuss how they can use books and stories to support the development of their child.
“A child’s first years are when their brains are developing the most, and this amazing opportunity to promote and provide shared reading opportunities will have a positive impact as we help more children to develop and be ready to start school.”
Prof Matt Ashton, Director of Public Health, said “ I loved reading to my kids when they were little, and the fact they have taken their love of reading into their teenage years. Any opportunity you have to engage with a child using a picture or story book can open the door to a wonderful world of words, art, and imagination.
“Teaching them rhymes, songs and repetition can help them to make sense of the world around them and lay foundation skills that will last a lifetime. It’s not just about reading, but sharing special time together, building bonds, confidence and giving them the best start in life.”
Cath Creed, Family Nurse Partnership supervisor said “My team have received further training from Book Start to further their understanding of the vast array of benefits looking through a book together can bring for children.
“It is great that we can enrich our young parents and infants lives through this collaboration with partners from Barnardo’s, Book Start, Dollywood Foundation, Public health commissioners and Health Visiting colleagues.”
