Children of the UK, it’s time to get ready for World Book Day! Arriving in early March, it is a wonderful annual event where children across the nation get to immerse themselves in books, storytelling, and other book-inspired activities. Such activities are incredibly important for children. Did you know, for example, that children who regularly read for pleasure are happier children who also go on to have greater success in their lives? This uplift is even more significant for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Such is the power of reading for little ones! With all this in mind, today’s article outlines more about World Book Day and why it’s so important. It also suggests some activities that children and families can take part in to celebrate this year’s event.
“World Book Day improves children’s life chances, particularly those growing up in disadvantage and inequality, by encouraging reading for pleasure.” — World Book Day® Impact Report 2024
Why World Book Day is So Important to Children
World Book Day arrives each year on the first Thursday of March. So, for 2025 it’s celebrated on the 6th of March, then in 2026 it’s on the 5th, for 2027 it’s the 4th, and so on. Organised by the charity of the same name, the core mission of World Book Day is “to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own.” The reason is simple: a life-long love of reading for pleasure results in improved life chances. It’s incredibly powerful for children of all ages, as indicated in the following findings from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development:
“Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income.”
The National Literacy Trust, BookTrust and others also came to similar conclusions:
“Evidence … shows that reading enjoyment and literacy levels are associated with educational attainment and employability skills as well as health, social, emotional and intellectual benefits.”
How to Encourage Children to Love Books
The World Book Day® charity published a 17-page impact report for the event that took place in 2024. One of the key findings was that something needed to be done to stop the significant drop in children reading for pleasure. Otherwise, children would be missing out on some profound benefits. The report concluded that there had been several reasons for the downward trend. For example, 20% of children said they felt judged for what books they read. Some said that reading felt more like a chore or ‘work’ because the books were foisted upon them by adults. Just over 8% of children simply didn’t have access to any books at home. Of those that did, over a third said they had no choice over what they read.
However, after asking the children what would make reading better, the conclusion was that being able to choose what to read, when to read, and where to read were crucial factors in their enjoyment. Being given the freedom to read in other ways also played a role; for example, some wanted access to audiobooks, graphic novels, and other non-standard book types. From this, a new approach was devised and World Book Day organisers have adopted it this year. It’s called ‘Read Your Way’ and is proving to have positive results.
Employ the ‘Read Your Way’ Approach to Reading
This new theme has six key components, each helping to increase children’s enjoyment and regular uptake of reading:
- Read to/with children regularly;
- Help children find time to read;
- Ensure children have books at home as well as at school/nursery etc.
- Make reading fun for children;
- Ensure children get to choose which book(s) they read;
- Ensure children have trusted help when choosing a new book.
Books for World Book Day
In the UK, children under 18 are eligible to receive a £1 book token through the event. This can be used to buy a special World Book Day title or go towards another book (more information is available here). World Book Day is therefore the perfect time to encourage children to read books – or, of course, to read in tandem with parents/carers if they’re not yet old enough to understand printed words. Greater success is likely, though, if the ‘Read Your Way’ approach, outlined above, has been employed. So, for example, by allowing a child to choose the book, when to read it, and where to read it. And they don’t have to stick only to World Book Day because every day is a great day for children to benefit from reading!
Activity Ideas for Under-Fives
While many schools and childcare settings arrange activities for children on World Book Day, families can also organise their own. Consider these fun and simple ideas to get you started:
Visit a Library or Bookshop
Many local libraries take part in World Book Day each year by organising storytelling sessions, book-themed activities, and fancy-dress fun for local families. So, perhaps check what’s on near you. A special trip to a local bookshop is also a great idea for World Book Day, especially if your child has one of the event’s book tokens and the bookstore is a scheme participant. Make it an event, let your little one pick out a book, and it can become a truly special experience for them.
Dressing Up for Story Time
Children will love dressing up as their favourite book character! It doesn’t have to be complicated — a red top for Little Red Riding Hood, a black sheet or tablecloth for Harry Potter’s robe, or a stripey t-shirt for Where’s Wally can be effective as a little one’s costume. Then, snuggle up and read their chosen book together.
Creating a Cosy Storytelling Nook
A storytelling nook or corner is also a wonderful addition to a child’s home. Part of the fun is setting them up with your child, so they’re cosy and comfortable. Cushions, warm rugs, and child-safe LED candles give a bit of atmosphere and perhaps blankets can be stretched over a frame or furniture to create a snug teepee or den. Once complete, you and your child have somewhere welcoming and comfortable to read stories together. Follow the bold link to learn more about this magical idea.
Interactive Storytelling
Make books come to life with silly voices, props, and actions. These give stories a realistic slant as well as making them interactive — and great fun! For example, whispers can add suspense, scary voices can add tension, and well-placed silly voices can add a bit of humour! Perhaps go a step further and act out scenes with your child after reading sessions.
Sensory Play Inspired by Books
Stories can also be brought to life with hands-on sensory activities. For example, the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar could inspire a home fruit-tasting session! Let your child try different fruits and talk about their colours, textures, and flavours. Harry Potter books or Room on the Broom could inspire playful potion-making. Children could mix coloured water, glitter, leaves and all sorts of (safe) things for a magical potion play session!
Book-Themed Arts & Crafts
Books and stories can really inspire children’s creativity. So, why not harness that instinct and get them busy with some book-inspired crafts? Some easy creative ideas include making a DIY bookmark with stickers and drawings, creating a simple puppet of a story character, designing and decorating a mini picture book together, or even creating stories together that the children can illustrate.
Get Siblings Involved
If your child has older siblings, they can read aloud to their younger brother or sister, act out a story together, or even write their own book. Encouraging them to share their love of reading encourages little ones and makes the day even more special.
These are just a few ideas for families celebrating World Book Day. Be sure to check out the family activity ideas on the World Book Day website for even more ideas.
World Book Day is a fantastic way to introduce children to the joy of books, but why stop there? Reading with children is incredibly beneficial to them, so keep the reading fun going all year by making stories a daily part of playtime and bedtime. Happy World Book Day!
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Families: get ready for World Wildlife Day! On 3rd March each year, we celebrate UN World Wildlife Day, an important event that is all about protecting nature’s flora and fauna. At nursery age, little ones are naturally curious and eager to learn more about the world around them. World Wildlife Day is therefore the perfect opportunity to inspire a greater love for nature and wildlife in our young. Exploring the wonders of plants, trees, and the animal kingdom teaches them more about the world and also helps children develop key skills like language, creativity, and empathy. Whether through outdoor play or wildlife-themed activities, engaging with nature’s wildlife can therefore create valuable early learning experiences. With that in mind, today’s post outlines some simple activities that children, including those under five*, can take part in to celebrate World Wildlife Day. We also highlight some of the benefits of nature to children towards the end of the post.
Getting outdoors is the best way to see wildlife, especially if your family lives near a park or the countryside. Rambles, picnics, and simple walks are all obvious options and, of course, wildlife sanctuaries are a good choice if you have one nearby. That said, while such outdoor options are amongst the best ways for children to connect with nature, sometimes they’re simply not possible. However, when that’s the case, there are plenty of other possibilities including bringing the wonders of wildlife into your nursery, home, or garden. Here are some engaging, age-appropriate activities that will allow children to take part in World Wildlife Day whatever their circumstances:
Most children naturally take to drawing, so encouraging them to draw wild animals, plants and birds will be a popular suggestion, especially around the time of World Wildlife Day. For example, they could try drawing British mammals like rabbits and squirrels, jungle animals like elephants and tigers, or sea creatures like dolphins and whales. To make it easier, perhaps give them some visual reference to inspire them. They could choose from a variety of media, be it pencils, crayons, paints, or collages — or something entirely different. Playdough or salt dough models are also an option. Children naturally love to create and, once complete, perhaps display their pieces to encourage future progress.
Reading books about wildlife will introduce children to new animals and habitats. Great options for younger under-fives include ‘Dear Zoo’ by Rod Campbell and ‘Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?’ by Bill Martin Jr. (author) and Eric Carle (illustrator). Also, of course, children and families have the option to tell each other made-up stories. They’re a great way to encourage creative thinking and can be approached in a number of different ways. For example, a parent could tell a story first to give the child an idea of 
Try making some simple bird feeders with your children. There are lots of easy ways to make them as outlined in our dedicated guide, 
Create a simple scavenger hunt using pictures, words, or our free nature hunt sheets to encourage children to find different natural objects like leaves, feathers, and pine cones. This activity builds children’s observation skills, gives them deep insights into nature, and instils in them a better appreciation for the environment. Currently, free reference sheets are available for 
Engage children with easy science experiments, like 
Spending time in nature or learning about wildlife isn’t just fun—it has incredible benefits for early childhood development. To harness such benefits, families can incorporate nature-based learning into children’s routines in a variety of ways. Examples include organising outdoor exploration sessions, setting up small wildlife observation areas, and using nature-themed storytelling to engage the young learners. Connecting children with nature:
Incorporating wildlife into children’s activities doesn’t have to be limited to one day. Encouraging youngsters to notice the birds in the garden, look for insects on nature walks, or watch the changing seasons can gift them a lifelong love of nature. Parents and families can make wildlife observation a regular habit, perhaps by keeping a simple nature sketchbook where children can draw or glue in pictures of what they see, or by creating a wildlife corner at home with books, nature finds, and small child-safe plants. Even setting up a bird-watching station near a window can turn everyday moments into exciting learning opportunities. By celebrating World Wildlife Day, we can inspire the next generation of nature lovers—one little explorer at a time!
Transform your living room into a mini adventure zone. If you don’t have existing adventure equipment, perhaps use cushions and make tunnels from blankets draped over furniture. You can also create masking tape ‘routes’ on the floor to mark out an exciting course for little ones to navigate, crawl through, jump over, and balance along. You can add a timer to make it a fun race or include challenges like hopping on one foot or crawling backwards. This is a great way to build gross motor skills while having loads of fun.
Hide small toys or objects* around the house and give your child simple clues or a checklist to find them. This activity encourages problem-solving and keeps them engaged in an exciting mission. Perhaps introduce themes, for example, a pirate treasure hunt with a ‘treasure map’ or a nature scavenger hunt using items like leaves or toy animals.
A few sheets stretched over furniture, with blankets, pillows, and child-safe* LED fairy lights below, can create a cosy hideaway. This can be used for storytelling, imaginative play, or simply a quiet space to relax. Encourage your child to bring their favourite books and stuffed animals inside, to make it their own secret retreat. Den building helps encourage creativity, teamwork, and a sense of independence.
Let your little ones dress up as pirates, fairies, princesses, or superheros and encourage them to act out their own stories. Role-playing helps boost their imagination, creativity, and confidence. Provide props like child-safe* toy swords, wands, or kitchen utensils as pretend play items to expand their stories. Acting out different scenarios enhances communication skills and self-expression.
Swap traditional paintbrushes for sponges, cotton pads, or even cut vegetable fingers or potato ‘stamps’. Using unusual tools to apply paint allows children to explore different textures and get creative with their masterpieces. You can also use things like leaves, or child-safe kitchen utensils, to achieve different effects. Let them mix colours and discover new shades while experimenting with new application techniques.
Help your child make their own salt dough with flour, salt, and water. Moulding and shaping salt dough is a great sensory and motor skill activity. While supervising children for safety, provide cookie cutters, rolling pins, or stamps so they can make different shapes and imprints. You can also add child-safe food colouring for extra sensory fun.
Give your child a mix of stickers, old magazines, and child-safe glue sticks to create their own collage artwork. This is a great way to develop fine motor skills. Set up themes such as Under the Sea or Space Adventure to inspire their creativity. When finished, perhaps display their artwork on the fridge or a wall to encourage pride in their work and nurture their sense of achievement.
A large cardboard box can become a rocket, a car, or a house with just a little imagination. Provide crayons or water-based markers and stickers for decoration and let their creativity take over. You can cut out* windows, and doors, and even make a steering wheel for them. Encourage storytelling by asking them where their box creation will take them.
Closely supervising* children for safety, fill a washing-up bowl with water and let them guess whether different objects will sink or float. This simple science experiment is both educational and fun. You can extend the activity by discussing why some things float and others sink, teaching basic physics in an engaging way.
Dye dry rice or pasta with child-safe food colouring for a colourful, ‘scoop-able’ sensory play activity. Once the dye has dried, provide spoons, cups, and small containers for pouring, scooping, and mixing. This activity helps develop fine motor skills while being visually stimulating.
(While supervising children*): mixing flour with baby oil or vegetable oil will create a soft, mouldable 
Freeze fruit like strawberries, orange segments, or suitably sized small toys in ice. Once you have removed them from the freezer, let children “rescue” the fruit and objects from the ice by using warm water and spoons. This activity promotes patience and problem-solving skills with a scientific twist. You can add child-safe food colouring to the water before freezing for a more visually engaging experience.
Provide ready-made bases, tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings for kids to assemble* their own mini pizzas. Encourage them to arrange toppings into faces, pictures, or patterns, making the activity both fun and delicious.
Applying icing and sprinkles to cookies or biscuits makes for a fun and tasty decorating activity. Let children experiment with different patterns and colour combinations, encouraging creativity and hand-eye coordination.
Let children choose their ingredients and blend* fruit with milk or yoghurt to make delicious and nutritious drinks. If they’re old enough, are closely supervised, and it’s safe for them to do so, let them help with mixing. Once the smoothie mix is ready, use fun paper straws or cups to make it feel like a special treat.
Play your children’s favourite tunes and have a dance-off! A dance party is great for burning off extra energy indoors and it’s immense fun. Children can swirl paper ribbons or strands of coloured tissue paper for added fun and movement when they dance. Dancing helps children stay fit and is also good for honing coordination, balance, and motor skills.
Musical statues and musical chairs are classic games that never fail to bring laughter and excitement to a rainy day. Add fun challenges like dancing in slow motion or pretending to dance like a robot and it’s sure to be a big hit with kids!
Create shakers using rice or dried pasta in bottles — or use pots and pans as drums, perhaps using a wooden spoon. Encourage your child to form their own mini band. Different materials and a range of cardboard boxes or Tupperware-style tubs will allow children to experiment with a variety of possible sounds. It’s very creative!
With all the food and feasting associated with Christmas, it got us thinking about food hygiene and safety for children. Aside from keeping alert to possible allergens, parents need to be careful to ensure families remain safe from illnesses caused by food hygiene mishaps. After all, such illnesses can be particularly dangerous to little ones, who are fragile, but can be largely avoidable when good hygiene measures are taken. With that in mind, today’s post outlines various ways in which parents can stay on top of hygiene around the preparation of food for their children. And, of course, such measures will keep adults safer too.
Ensuring the food preparation environment is clean and hygienic will reduce the chance of microbes, including germs and viruses, contaminating food. Wiping down with warm, soapy, water on clean dish cloths is ideal for many such tasks. Anti-bacterial sprays are useful but should not be allowed to contaminate food, plates and cutlery etc. directly or indirectly.
Only feed children, especially babies and under-fives, age-appropriate food/meals. This is very important because many foods contain too much salt, sugar and saturated fats for young children. Some other foods can contain dangerous levels of toxins or even heavy metals. 
Always thoroughly wash vegetables, fruit and salads and, when appropriate, peel vegetables before use.
It’s hugely beneficial if children learn about food safety and proper hygiene associated with its preparation. Such things are useful life lessons and will help to keep them more safe and free of illnesses and nasty bugs. Teach them by example whenever possible. A great start is to encourage them to thoroughly wash their hands and fingers with warm, soapy water before preparing or eating food. They should also be encouraged to sit down at the table and be in a calm state before eating. This will help to better ensure food does not become contaminated or knocked onto a dirty floor. It will also reduce the chance of the child choking on food.
Any successful storytelling nook needs to be warm, cosy, quiet and comfortable. That means choosing a corner or recess of some kind in the home that’s away from distractions like TVs and game consoles. Somewhere that’s not used as a thoroughfare by other family members will also help. Wherever you choose, it also needs to be warm. Therefore, somewhere away from draughts is required, so avoid being too close to entrances and exits to the outside. A corner of a quiet room or a tranquil alcove are therefore often ideal spots for your child’s storytelling nook.
Whether reading from a book or creating a new story off the top of one’s head, there’s something that really brings a story to life — being animated and expressive during storytelling, rather like actors might do. That’s true whether it’s the adult or the child telling the story.
Do consider adding a storytelling nook or reading corner to your child’s home. They’re great vehicles for escapism, are incredibly worthwhile, and offer potentially magical experiences for your child. And, if you go the extra mile to make them cosy, immersive and special, they will encourage your child to love reading and creating new adventures using their imagination. Storytelling nooks and reading corners can open up whole new worlds to your child and be a wonderful antidote to electronic screens, gloomy weather, and more limited daylight during winter months. What’s more, they’re a great way for all parties to grow deeper bonds through shared periods of exquisitely immersive, high-quality time.
Are you the parent of a 3-year-old child, or one that’s just turning 4? If so, you need to choose your 3 preferred primary schools now and submit your application for them at the latest by mid-January of the coming year. It’ll be here before you know it! Whether you want your child to begin school at the age of four or five, you have limited time left for your application. With that in mind, today’s post outlines our top tips for a successful primary school application for your preschooler. Read on to learn how to maximise your potential success in achieving a school place that’s best for your child.
It’s important for parents to focus on primary schools that are close to their child’s home. That’s for two reasons:
Visit the schools on your shortlist. Such ‘in-person’ visits are like gold dust. You can ask questions, get a feel for the school, see how the existing children are getting on, witness the teaching style, and see how well your child might fit in. Take them with you if possible. Most primary schools will have open days or evenings, so find out about those and attend. Alternatively, call the head or school office to arrange a guided visit if possible.
One of the most fundamental decisions you need to make before applying is whether you want your child to begin at primary school when they’re 4 or the ‘legal’ maximum age of 5. This is a conundrum especially for “summer-born children” i.e. those born between the start of April and the end of August. For this age group, they’ll be amongst the youngest if they start in Reception Year at 4 or amongst the oldest if they defer their start until the age of 5. What’s more, for those deferring until 5, it’s not the parent who decides whether a child goes into Reception or Year 1 — it’s the schools and local admission authorities. So, parents need to decide, before applying, whether they wish to go with the usual flow and start their children at 4 (will they be ready?), or defer a year until they’re 5. It’s a fine balancing act and your decision needs to be made in the best interests of the child. That said, most children do start at 4 and go in Reception Year.
Priority for primary school places is given first to those who submit applications on time. Each year, that means between the 1st of September and the 15th of January when your child is 3 or has just turned 4. Even if you intend to defer your child’s school start until they’re 5 rather than starting them while they’re 4, you still need to apply while they’re only 3 or have just turned 4. If you miss the mid-January deadline, you will stand a much lower chance of achieving a place for your child at your preferred school(s) — because places will already have been allocated to those who applied on time. Sadly, many families miss out because they simply didn’t realise how early they needed to apply.
You read that right! When National Offer Day for primary schools arrives, it’s generally agreed that you should accept whichever school place is offered to your child. That’s the case even if you’re unhappy! It’s because your child then has a firm school place to fall back on should you appeal, or go on a waiting list for another school, and are unsuccessful. Accepting the initial school place that’s offered does not adversely affect your chances with appeals or waiting lists, which is why the accepted wisdom is to accept the initial offer.