Roald Dahl Day celebrates this creative master and all of the work that he has done by bringing stories of fiction and wonder to children everywhere, as well as his work through the Roald Dahl Marvelous Children’s Charity. Celebrating this day is all about being creative and enjoying the childlike entrance into a world of fantasy and delight. James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, and BFG. Many of these should sound familiar to quite a few adults, as well as children of all ages!
Millions of children, and adults too, have spent delightful hours entering into the world of Dahl’s imagination, and this is the perfect day to pay homage to this creative genius. Since his books have been so popular (translated into at least 58 languages), the works of Dahl are enjoyed and celebrated in countries all over the world. His books feature villainous adults, heroic child protagonists, fanciful worlds, and have been adapted into dozens of plays and films.
The Nurseries are going to be taking part in a variety of different activities on Roald Dahl Day such as, reading his stories, throwing a party and talking about their favourite books, characters, and moments.
The importance of reading
At just a few months of age, an infant can look at pictures, listen to your voice, and point to objects on the pages. Guide your child by pointing to the pictures, and say the names of the various objects. By drawing attention to pictures and associating the words with both pictures and the real-world objects, your child will learn the importance of language.
Studies have shown that children that are read to on a regular basis have a broader range of vocabulary, increased general knowledge and a better level of development when starting school. Make sure that your child is familiar with language and books so they can see how enjoyable reading is. Some of the things you can do include:
- Reading aloud to your child, talking about the words and pictures, and sharing ideas about the book.
- Reading yourself – children who see adults reading, and enjoying it, are much more likely to want to read themselves.
- Surrounding your child with books – you don’t need hundreds of books at home, but go to the library or bookshop regularly to borrow books, spend time together, browse and make choices. In this way, reading becomes a habit.
