Telling stories, singing songs and learning rhymes together are not only fun for small children, they’re also fantastic ways to help build a huge variety of skills.
‘Wriggly Reader’ sessions take place for 0-5-year-olds at libraries across the county, and while the format may vary slightly from area to area, they all play an important role.
As well as being a giggle, ‘hidden benefits’ include boosting communication skills, improving confidence, promoting brain development and sparking young imaginations!
Rosie Robinson, a volunteer Wriggly Reader leader at Ratby Library, tells us more…
What does a Wriggly Reader session entail?
A Wriggly Readers session here at Ratby Library is a weekly session.
We start the same way with some actions and then have lots of nursery rhymes and good stories. Sometimes there’s a theme, we recently had Old MacDonald and used the toy animals, and we always finish with a sleeping animal song where the children go to sleep and then jump up with lots of energy.
We then get the toys out and the adults can have a cup of coffee and a natter. The whole session is about half an hour of stories and songs then about an hour to relax and play.
Why are Wriggly Readers important?
Little children need to develop their language skills. Looking at books, colourful pictures and word spotting will hopefully lead on to them becoming fluent readers in the future.
Our sessions also encourage the children to work together which helps make friends. For the adults it’s a good opportunity to meet other parents and find out what is going on in the community.
How did you get involved running Wriggly Reader sessions?
I got involved because when I had a baby and wanted somewhere to go. That then developed into me running it as a weekly session.
What do you love best about leading Wriggly Reader sessions?
They’re so much fun! I love being here and seeing all the children’s faces and getting involved with them – I think I’m a big kid at heart!
It’s also nice seeing the children develop through the years. Our older children have just gone off to school and it’s been lovely seeing them develop and become helpers. Now we have a cohort of babies and it’s really sweet seeing them engage. Plus I just love meeting new people.
Is there anything families can do at home to help their children develop?
Reading to your children every night at bedtime is such a bonding experience and can also provide valuable down-time. It’s important as looking at stories and looking at pictures can really help develop a child’s imagination.
Encouraging children to access a library, whether in the community or at school, or through groups like Wriggly Readers can also be a big help.
- A Festival of Wriggly Readers will see various events taking place across the county this October
- Discover more about books and reading in Leicestershire