Why reading a book to your kids is a wonderful thing to do – Hayley Matthews

Baby Oryn is loving being read a book despite only having a few words, writes Hayley Matthews.

Start your kids on books as early as possible

No point in denying that times are hard just now and despite us all knowing it will all pass, it still feels very surreal when were all living it.

I think we’ve been divided in to two groups: drinkers and runners.

I’ve been running for the chocolate but seriously, hopefully the majority of us will shine bright, rising like a phoenix ready to be the best humans we can be in a few months’ time. OK, a tad cheesy but you get my gist. We’ve no excuse for not coming out of this better people and we also have absolutely no excuses for not reading to our kids just now.

For those working all hours to save everyone I salute you and to those staying at home with kids trying to keep them entertained I urge you, grab a book! It’s really been getting us through and it really is so simple.

Never underestimate the power of just picking up a book and reading to them. One of our favourites just now is by Scottish children’s author Irene Mathias and it’s called Ten Cupcakes.

It’s a situation I’m sure many of us can relate to just now when all we seem to be doing is eating whilst in lockdown.

I’m always delighted to support Scottish talent and it’s such a beautiful children’s book, where you hear a little voice enticing you to eat all ten cupcakes, it’s a light-hearted and enjoyable distraction from the screens and tech that we so often reach for.

Baby Oryn is loving being read a book despite only having a few words, but I’m sure this is where many authors would agree that introducing children to a love of words through books can never happen too early.