Encourage your child to read

We all know that reading is one of the key ingredients to doing well at school and is essential to your child’s development. The research is crystal clear. People with good literacy skills are more likely to have higher self-esteem, better jobs, higher wages and even better health. So what can you do as a parent to encourage a love of reading?

 

When to start reading

It is simply never too soon to start reading to your child. “It’s not just about books. It’s about language and communication,” says Sarah Osborne, Manager, National Reading Network for Schools and Early Years settings at the National Literacy Trust http://www.literacy trust.org.uk. “Talk to your baby. Repeat nursery rhymes. Sing. Use props. And generally make it fun,” suggests Osborne. The library is a great resource with lots of activities to try. As your child gets older let them play an active role in choosing books. It’s important to find a quiet, cosy place to enjoy a story.

 

Choosing the right book

Choosing the right book is the key to unlocking a love of reading. “It’s like buying a car with square wheels. If you buy a book and your child doesn’t like it and it gets left to gather dust on the shelf, it’s a total waste of money,” says David Teale, founder of online book club www.myschoolbookclub.com. Firstly, get expert advice. Try asking a good book seller, librarian teacher or use an online book club. Secondly look for a book on something they are interested in e.g. football, butterflies. The main aim is for your child to enjoy reading.

 

Variety is the spice of life

Don’t feel your child has to be stretched every time they read something. There are some great picture books and comics that older children will love. “Adults read simple things too. We all read tabloid news papers and the back of corn flakes packets,” adds Teale. Osborne agrees: “It’s all about choosing something to suit a particular moment. Sometimes you may feel like reading ‘Hello’ magazine while other times you’d prefer to get your teeth into ‘War and Peace.’”

 

Set a good example

“In a musical family you generally find children become good musicians. Reading is contagious too,” says Teale. Make sure you show your children that you love reading too. Sit down and read your books together. Read anything from recipes to sign posts to demonstrate what an important life skill it is.

 

Starting school

When your child starts school they will start to learn to read. If your child loves reading to you -that’s great. “Don’t get too hung up on your child being word perfect. Just give them lots of encouragement,” says Osborne. If they don’t want to read to you after a hard days slog at school then don’t push them. “Children can lose face if it’s difficult for them and it can also remind them of school work – which can be a negative feeling for some children,” adds Teale.

 

Regular reading

Make time to read to your children regularly. Not only is it great for their language and communication skills it helps create a special bond. “Reading a book to your children at the end of the day is a lovely way to wind down,” adds Osborne. More often than not it’s Mum who reads the stories but don’t forget Dad too. “Don’t worry if you don’t read well - children won’t be critical and they’ll love the personal contact,” says Teale. And if they want to read the same book over and over again, don’t fret; it is because they are getting something from it.

Bring books to life

If your child has enjoyed reading a particular book, then find out more about it. Check the internet for fan clubs and the author’s website. Look for games, colouring sheets or competitions. “If your child loved Roald Dahl’s ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’, then take them to go and see the play or film or find out if there’s a DVD of it you can watch,” suggests Teale. Watching a good film can spur a reluctant reader to try the next book in the series. Or play an audio CD of stories to children (great for long car journeys) and then introduce the books to them.  “Carry on with an author,” says Teale. So if your child liked a particular book as a toddler encourage them find out if they’ve written anything for older children.

 

When to stop reading

Don’t! Everyone loves a good story. “The age old problem is that as soon as children become independent readers parents stop reading to their children,” says Osborne. Teale agrees: “My wife read to our four children until they were at least 10 or 11. Then, as she loved the stories so much, she continued reading to our youngest until she was 13 or 14. All went on to further education so it must have done them some good!”

 

What about learning difficulties?

There is no excuse for a child with dyslexia or any other learning difficulty not to enjoy reading. “We’ve recently introduced a whole raft of books, especially written by the best authors for dyslexic and reluctant readers. There are funny stories, haunting stories, stories written for children up to the age of 14-15, but with a reading age of 6-8 years, “says Teale. 

Back to work?

Are you ‘home alone’ this September after your youngest has started school? Many Mums will be delighted at the prospect of some ‘free’ time after years of hard slog. But if you’d like to go back to work but lack confidence and don’t know where to start, then read on…

Many women feel that they are ‘unemployable’ after so many years at home. “It’s simply not true. Don’t under estimate the skills you’ve learnt as a mum,” says Gillian Nissim, founder of www.Workingmums.co.uk, a job site for women. Most women will have skills gained from working before having children and they will also have built up a huge skill set as a parent such as multi-tasking and organisational expertise. “Communicating and negotiating with an irate toddler is probably more challenging than sitting in a management meeting!” suggests Nissim. So remember as a parent you’ve picked up a good many skills that are transferable and invaluable in the workplace.

Don’t be put off by the current economic climate. Companies are still keen to offer working parents flexibility in spite of the recession, adds Nissim. “Research suggests that flexible working improves employees’ morale and loyalty and gives businesses the chance to save money too.”

 
1. Be sure you are ready to go back

“It may sound obvious but you need to be sure that you are ready to go back to work,” says Nissim. Make a list of the pros and cons of returning to work and only embark on looking for work if you are 100%-sure you are ready.

 
2. Be clear about what you want to do

Do you want to go back into the same line of work you left before you had kids? Or perhaps you can use the break in your career to have a complete change and try something new or set up your own franchise or company. Bear in mind that your dream job may not be the first one you find. “Many women who’ve been at home for a number of years find that it can be less daunting to use their first job back as a stepping stone.”

3. Do your homework

Use the internet to research companies, check jobsites and networking sites such as www.linkedin.com . This is something you can easily do when the kids are at school or in bed. Tap into your network of friends to find work that you like and that fits in with your family. “Ask people at the school gate where they are working. If you like what you hear find out more and apply,” adds Nissim. Don’t forget to check your local paper for firms that are recruiting locally.

4. Ask for advice

Don’t be afraid to ask for advice on anything from how to write your CV, dressing for interviews to interview technique. You can get tips from job websites like www.Workingmums.co.uk  but don’t forget to talk to your friends who’ve done it already. “Your friends will tell you straight,” says Nissim.

5. Practice makes perfect

Be sure to get a couple of people to read your CV before you send it off. “Don’t worry about the gap in your CV. Write it to show your skill sets instead of focussing on chronological order,” says Nissim. If you were involved in the PTA, fundraising for a playgroup or organising the Christmas Fair then be sure to put them on your CV. They are valid points that show you are a good organiser, communicator etc. Get friends to give you practice interviews and think of good questions to ask your interviewer, adds Nissim.

6. Get your childcare in place

There’s no point in spending lots of time writing your CV and going for job interviews if you don’t have your childcare sorted. “Knowing you’ve got it in place means there’s one less thing to think about,” says Nissim. “And don’t even think about working at home without adequate childcare – you’ll end up annoying your employer or if you’re starting a business or a franchise you certainly won’t be able to give it your best shot.” Employers are not legally allowed to ask you about your childcare, however, it may be beneficial to let them know that you have it all set up.

Everyone’s talking about….how to avoid swine flu

The summer is over and most people are back in their daily routines of work, college and school. New swine flu cases are on the decline falling to 3,000 in the week to September 10 down from 130,000 a week at the outbreak’s height, according to the government. But experts say the virus may increase again and could come back with a vengeance this autumn or winter. So, how do you avoid getting the dreaded lurgy?

The number one rule is good hygiene.

• Wash hands regularly with soap and water.
• Alcohol handrubs are good too but only on visibly clean hands and useful if you can’t get to a sink easily.
• Clean surfaces to get rid of germs – the flu virus can live on a hard surface (i.e. a door handles, remote controls etc.) for up to 24 hours and soft surfaces for around 20 minutes.
• Use tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
• Bin tissues as soon as possible.
• What about facemasks? They aren’t recommended for healthy people as there is no evidence to suggest that it prevents getting swine flu as the virus is spread by touching infected surfaces or by someone coughing or sneezing at very close range.

Should I try to catch it now to avoid a later more serious strain?

No way. Don’t try to catch the virus as you may help it spread. And certainly don’t even think about having a swine flu party as not everything about the virus is yet known. “Catching swine flu will not necessarily protect you from strains that may emerge later,” says the NHS. You can also reduce your risk of getting the virus by avoiding unnecessary travel and crowds where possible.

What about a swine flu vaccine?

A swine flu vaccine could be licensed by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) by early October and the first people could be vaccinated from the middle of October. The NHS is vaccinating those at the greatest risk first. Those most at risk in order or priority are: people aged between 6 months and 65 years in the ‘seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups’*; pregnant women; people with compromised immune systems; those aged 65 and over in the ‘seasonal flu vaccine at-risk group’*. Frontline health and social care workers will also be offered the vaccine.

* The at-risk groups are people with: chronic respiratory, heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease; diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs; and a suppressed immune system due to disease or treatment.

Want more information?

Go to www.nhs.uk or www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu or call 0800 1 513 513.

If you think you may have swine flu visit the National Pandemic Flu service www.pandemicflu.direct.gov.uk or call 0800 1 513 100.

Contact your doctor direct if you are in a high-risk group e.g. you have a serious existing illness, are pregnant, you have a sick child under one year of age, your condition suddenly gets much worse, or your condition is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child).