With the remnants of World Book Day not far behind us, you’re probably wondering how you can keep the magic of storytelling alive with your child all year round. Well, we’ve put together some ideas of things you can make and do that are inspired by book characters, helping to encourage your child to keep reading, and for you both to continue discovering new worlds both inside and outside of the pages. Read on to find out more.
Harry Potter – wand making
Popular nursery chain Kiddi Caru states that one of the ways reading can benefit your child is by helping to increase their social and emotional development. Through reading the Harry Potter books as they grow up, your child can begin to understand complex relationships and themes that they might not otherwise face, in a safe – and magical – environment, to help them gain a better understanding of the real world. Whilst anything beyond the first book might not be suitable for younger children, the Wizarding World can be a joyful and welcoming environment for you and your child to discover.
To welcome them into this world, you could uncover some sticks, from about eight to 12 inches long, and take them home to be painted and decorated however you wish. You can then practice performing fantastical spells and watch as your child’s imagination becomes infused with magic.
The Cat in the Hat – a DIY hat
Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat has been a rhyming classic amongst children for many years. To immerse your child into the story, why not get crafty and make them their very own red and white stripy headwear?
You will need:
• A plastic (or paper) cup
• A paper plate
• Glue
• Paint
• String
Then, all you need to do is paint red and white stripes on the cup, glue it to the paper plate, and attach string around the side. Your child will love reading Dr. Seuss’ marvellous creation with their very own creation, just like the fictitious cat’s hat.
The Gruffalo – a walk in the woods
The Gruffalo is a story about a little mouse who takes a walk through a deep, dark wood. To aid him on his way, he creates a fictional friend – the Gruffalo – to scare off predators. This works up until he actually meets the Gruffalo, who threatens to eat the mouse. Luckily, the mouse outwits the Gruffalo, convincing him that the tiny mouse is actually the scariest animal in all of the woods.
The moral of the story is to use brains over brawn, so why not bear this in mind and explore your local woods, searching high and low with your little one for a Gruffalo of your very own. In fact, many real-life forests and parks create their own Gruffalo trail. At the time of writing, Northampton’s SalceyForest boasts a Super Worm trail, based on another one of Julia Donaldson’s classics.
The possibilities don’t end there! If your child loves fairy stories, then you could make a fairy house and leave it out in the garden after holding hands and reciting a fairy chant, or you could bake a chocolate cake like the one in Matilda. You could even enjoy a game of Winnie the Pooh inspired Poohsticks, if you’re lucky enough to live near a bridge over a river. The opportunities really are endless if you let your imagination run wild.
