Children's Book Week Tuesday, October 5, 2010 - 13:41

NIACE recognises that reading to children from a young age has a big impact on their educational successes and consequently their success in later life. It is encouraging adults to do everything they can to ensure that children have the best support for their literacy and language development, during Children's Book Week (4 - 10 October, 2010) and beyond.

There are a number of NIACE publications that are designed to help adults support children in making reading fun:

• Read with Me

• Read with Me... Again

• Read and Write Together

• Key Words Dictionary Literacy

Carol Taylor, Director of Operations at NIACE, said:

"Research is pretty clear - children who are read to from a very early age are much more likely to succeed educationally. Reading is about playing with language, working out how books work, being close to your mum or dad or granny or carer, owning books and ultimately, getting lost in books. Above all it's about fun for both children and adults."

"We also know that supporting children develops new skills in adults - not only parenting but communication skills, reading skills and patience. It encourages adults to think about careers in, for example, childcare, teaching and social care. It develops confidence to speak up and it gives fathers and male carers permission to spend time with their children."