As parents, one of the most powerful things you can do for your child’s development is reading with them daily. Regular reading has a profound impact on their literacy, cognitive abilities, and emotional growth. Here’s why reading with your child every day is essential, backed by UK-based research and statistics.

1. Boosting Literacy and Academic Success

Children who are read to daily have a strong advantage when it comes to reading comprehension and overall academic performance. Research from the National Literacy Trust shows that children who are read to regularly are twice as likely to have higher reading skills compared to those who aren’t. Early exposure to books helps children develop essential literacy skills, preparing them for school success.

2. Improving Vocabulary and Language Skills

Daily reading exposes children to a wider range of vocabulary. The National Literacy Trust found that children who read or are read to regularly hear 1.4 million more words per year than those who aren’t read to as often. A larger vocabulary helps with reading, writing, and even understanding complex subjects later in school.

3. Enhancing Cognitive and Emotional Development

Reading together helps build cognitive skills, such as focus and problem-solving. It also encourages emotional intelligence by allowing children to explore different emotions and perspectives through stories. According to BookTrust, children exposed to diverse characters in books tend to develop better empathy and social skills.

4. Statistics on the Impact of Daily Reading

5. Tips for Parents: How to Make Reading a Habit

Reading with your child every day helps lay the foundation for lifelong learning, academic success, and emotional growth. With research showing that daily reading boosts vocabulary, literacy, and social skills, it’s one of the most impactful things you can do for their future. Start today—your child will thank you later!

Here at Teacherplay we have many products to help support your child in the early stages of reading! Check out our products…

Getting the right sound for each letter is key to helping kids master reading and spelling! Here are some tips to make sure you’re saying those phonics sounds correctly:

1️⃣ Say the Sound, Not the Letter Name:

• For example:

• a = /æ/ (as in “apple”)

• b = /b/ (as in “bat”)

• c = /k/ (as in “cat”)

• Keep it short and crisp, avoid saying the letter name!

2️⃣ Use Pure Sounds (No Extra Sounds!):

• Say the sound cleanly without adding extra vowels or sounds.

• Example: “t” should sound like /t/ (not “tuh”).

3️⃣ Focus on Consistency:

• Make sure you say the sounds the same way every time. Consistency is key for helping kids hear and understand phonics sounds clearly!

4️⃣ Model Slow and Clear Sounds:

• Especially when you’re first introducing a sound, make it slow and clear to help kids hear the difference between similar sounds (like /b/ and /d/).

💡 Why It Matters:

Getting the phonics sounds right helps kids decode words and builds a strong foundation for reading!

Ready to help your child with their phonics? Let’s make those sounds clear and accurate! 📚✨

#PhonicsTips #ReadingIsFun #EarlyLiteracy #Phonics #TeachingTips #LearnToRead #ParentingTips #ReadingSkills

If you are unsure what the phonics screening test actually is, or have never heard of it
before. Then you have come to the right place…
What is the phonics screening test?
One of the most important milestones in a child’s early learning journey is in Year 1, when children are required to take the Phonics Screening Check (PSC). The check plays a vital role in assessing whether children have acquired the foundational reading skills necessary to become confident readers.

The Phonics Screening Check is a statutory assessment for children in England, usually
taken in June of Year 1 (at age 5-6). Its purpose is to check whether children can decode or "sound out" words using phonics, an essential reading skill. The test includes 40 words: 20 real words and 20 alien words (nonsense words).

Why is the phonics screening check important?

The phonics check acts as an early indicator of whether a child is on track with their phonics learning. It gives teachers valuable insights into a child’s reading abilities and allows them to provide targeted support where needed. If a child does not meet the required standard (usually a score of 32 or more correct answers out of 40), they may need extra support to help them develop these crucial skills. They will be given the opportunity to retake the check
in Year 2.

How can TeacherPlay help?

To support your child in passing the phonics screening test, we have our ‘Learning Phonics
Cards’ and our phonic support mat.