Nursery rhyme party provides a great bookstart for Torbay youngsters

Brixham will be going nursery rhyme crazy this week to celebrate National Bookstart Day with local youngsters.

Torbay Council's Library Service will be celebrating National Bookstart Day (Friday 9th October) with a nursery rhyme-themed event, at Furzeham Children's Centre, Brixham.

The event is aimed specifically at children aged under 5 years who will have the opportunity to join a rhyme time session followed by a craft activity:

09.30 to 10.00am – craft session. Children will have the chance to take part in a colouring-in activity. Those attending are being encouraged to dress in their best nursery rhyme outfits!

10.00 to 10.30am – baby bounce and rhyme session for babies, toddlers and pre-school children and their families. Mini Bookstart books and stickers will be provided.

10.30 to 11.00am – the craft activity will continue.

Cabinet Member Councillor Dave Butt, said: “It's fantastic that Torbay Library Services are supporting this very important event. Getting children into books at an early age is undoubtedly the best way of giving them a head start in education. It not only fills them with confidence in their own reading ability but also expands their imagination and encourages them to spend some quality time with their parents/carers.

Kathie Johnston, Torbay Council's Bookstart Co-ordinator, said: “National Bookstart Day is on Friday 09 October this year. It will be celebrated across the country with music and rhyme events, crafts activities and story telling. All of the events are designed to raise awareness of the benefits that early book sharing can bring. Children who enjoy books often have better language and listening skills, greater emotional and social development and are much more likely to be eager and confident learners when they start school.”

For more information on Bookstart please visit www.bookstart.org.uk or email bookstart@torbay.gov.uk.