We’re really excited to be virtually exhibiting for our partners at the institute of Health Visiting's Leadership Conference!
BookTrust is the largest children’s reading charity in the UK. Our ambition is to bring the benefits of reading to children in the greatest need and to achieve long-lasting impact by establishing reading habits and behaviours.
Sharing stories is invaluable for children in their early years and creates lifelong positive impact on health, wellbeing, creativity and education. This is even more important for disadvantaged children who face the greatest barriers to developing a lifelong reading habit. In the wake of the pandemic there’s never been a more urgent time to support those that need more help to get started on their reading journeys.
Health visiting teams are key partners for BookTrust, gifting our Bookstart Baby pack in a child’s first year, celebrating parents and carers as first teachers and spreading the word that it's never too early to read with babies – or bumps.
What is Bookstart Baby?
Bookstart Baby is a universal book gifting programme in England and Wales. Every child aged 0-12 months is eligible for a free pack of books and resources, designed to support and encourage families to read with their child as early as possible. Bookstart Baby has been designed to be given alongside messaging and tips to improve parents’ knowledge and confidence in reading with their baby.
Our free Bookstart Baby packs contain:
- Two engaging and age-appropriate board books carefully chosen by independent panel of experts such as health visitors and librarians
- Two colourful finger puppets with rhymes on the back, to help bring the stories to life
- A fun and informative concertina leaflet for parents and carers about the benefits of sharing rhymes and stories with babies from an early age
- Additional books in other languages are available for English as an Additional Language (EAL) families and parental guidance is also available to download and print in 20 languages
Expert support for Health Visitors
BookTrust works with families and practitioners to ensure the pack appeals to families from different backgrounds and circumstances.
Bookstart Baby packs can support you by:
- Providing a practical, free resource for health professionals which can act as an incentive for parents to attend developmental reviews
- Promoting secure attachment and bonding
- Supporting the development of speech and language
- Supporting the development of fine motor skills, listening and concentration
- Supporting the development of confidence and self-esteem for both child and parent
- Aiding cognitive development
- Breaking intergenerational cycles of disadvantage
- Aiding socio-emotional development, good mental health and wellbeing
- Helping to lay foundations of good literacy skills and prepare the way for school
To find out how we can support you and hear more about our partnerships with health visitors, please visit our website or get in touch – bookstart@booktrust.org.uk
