All playrooms across Isobel Mair Family Centre are literacy rich environments for our children.

Staff in our Cara playroom have been promoting children’s early literacy skills through introducing  a ‘Story of the Week’ and using our new storytelling tent. Children have been supported to create a Learning Wall to demonstrate and evidence their learning  about the language of books i.e. title, author, illustrator, blurb, spine. Please feel free to take a look and add your comments to the wall.

In Balta and Texa playrooms children enjoy accessing a variety of interactive story telling methods. Puppets, ICT, sensory touch and sound producing books are all used to help support children’s engagement in literacy. Speak to staff about their story telling skills!

You may have noticed our Bookbug display in the Family Centre corridor. Some of our staff are Bookbug trained and these fun and interactive rhyme and storytelling sessions are carried out within the Family Centre. Some children may benefit from Bookbug in the home sessions. This is a new venture for IMFC as we are currently in the process of  ‘rolling out’ our Bookbug in the Home project. Please speak to Mrs. Quaile or Mrs. Todd if you feel your child would benefit from this aspect of our service.

You can support you child in their literacy development in a number of ways. Please speak to staff if you require more information.

Here are some useful points of information:

• Enjoying stories in any format – narrated or signed – helps children learn how to concentrate.
• Storytelling helps physical development. Turning the pages of a book, navigating a website using a mouse or keyboard, and via touch on a mobile device like an iPad or an iPhone, develops motor skills.
• Exploring images and ideas develops our imagination and our senses – sight, touch, smell and sound – and helps us learn conversational skills, like turn-taking.
• Reading helps to introduce children to the structure and vocabulary of language – written, spoken and in sign language
• Stories help develop emotional intelligence and picture books will help children to find meaning within their own life. Children can pore over emotional situations contained within books that may help to relieve personal frustrations. They can encounter exciting and imaginative experiences far beyond their own environment or even their dreams.
• Storytelling is a great shared experience, helping children bond with their siblings, their friends and family, and their teachers and carers.
• The confidence to communicate helps reduce the social isolation experienced by many deaf children and those with special educational needs.