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Salford-based organisations discuss the importance of storytelling in honour of National Share-a-Story Month.
This May brings National Share-a-Story Month back to life, celebrating the power of storytelling to help fulfill the Federation of Children’s Book Groups’ (FCBG) core aim of bringing children and stories together.
National Share-a-Story Month was first established in the 1960s by the FCBG and each year, comes to light with a different story theme. This year, the theme is ‘Travelling Tales’, and the FCBG has created a list of travelling books for children to enjoy.
Salford entrepreneur Nicola Fleury, who owns Kidzrus nurseries, discussed the importance of storytelling in her nurseries. She said: “I would add that we strongly promote story time and read to children every day as it allows then to use their imaginations and express themselves as individuals whilst extending their communication and language.
“We also offer story sessions with parents to encourage reading at home using our home libraries with an assortment of story books the children can relate to.”
National Share a Story Month is here! The theme for 2019 is Travelling Tales. It’s inspired us to write a short story about a substitute teacher’s morning routine! We’ve titled it ‘Travelling to a New School’ ? What stories will you be sharing this month? #NSSM @FCBGNews pic.twitter.com/4igofnCeUT
— MPS Education (@MPSEducation) 2 May 2019
A spokesperson from Youth Unity, a Little Hulton based youth organisation, also expressed their thoughts about storytelling, saying: “The importance of storytelling with young people gives them imagination to colour their own thoughts and leads the path to those who want to work within the creative industry.
“Children grow up too quickly and storytelling allows them to hold on to childhood for longer.”
Chris Farey, Head of Libraries at Salford Community Leisure, also discussed the importance of storytelling, saying: “Storytelling is an essential part of all our lives. Parents and carers sharing stories with children can be an enjoyable way to support their development and need only take ten minutes a day.
“Reading for pleasure improves communication skills and encourages empathy, and has been shown to improve children’s educational prospects. It’s also, of course, fun!
“Research has suggested that reading for pleasure is equally important for us adults, promoting tolerance, combating loneliness and reducing levels of stress and depression. And it’s popular! More than half a million hard-copy and e-books were borrowed last year from our 16 libraries.”
Farey also commented on how easy it is to use their Salford libraries, adding: “Anyone of any age can join the library free of charge and take home stories to enjoy themselves or with family members. We also offer a range of free story- rhymetime sessions for 0-5s and reading groups for adults.”
Feeling inspired? Here’s a map offering a list of libraries across Salford.
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