National Literacy Trust launches new online zone for parents to engage children at home as schools on the North Yorkshire Coast close

Explore the National Literacy Trust’s Family Zone: literacyfamilyzone.org.uk

 

In response to school closures on the North Yorkshire Coast and across the UK, the National Literacy Trust has today launched a free comprehensive online zone for parents seeking ideas and guidance for activities that will engage their children at home, whilst also benefiting their reading, writing and language development.

 

The charity, which runs Our Stories in partnership with the North Yorkshire Coast Opportunity Area to inspire parents to share stories with their children every day, has created Family Zone [literacyfamilyzone.org.uk] – a one-stop shop for families which brings together some of the UK’s most exciting literacy resources and activities in one place.

 

Drawing on the charity’s expertise and incredible partnerships with teachers, authors, publishers, educational organisations and corporates, local families can access engaging reading and writing activities, book lists, videos, audiobooks, competitions and reading challenges, curated for early years to early teens.

 

New activities and resources will be added regularly, as the charity develops innovate partnerships and features over the coming weeks and months.

 

Resources and activities for families to enjoy together at home include:

• Simple and fun Small Talk videos to help parents chat, play and read with their young child
• Top tips for enjoying audiobooks as a family
• A guide to building a reading den at home
• A Reading Miles Global Challenge to encourage children to read around the world
• Activity sheets based on popular children’s books, including Where’s Wally?, as well as playful learning activities featuring much-loved CBeebies characters
• Exciting author videos, including live stories with author Steve Antony, draw-along sessions with illustrator Rob Biddulph and poetry workshops with Sarah Crossan

 

Liz Dyer, Our Stories Manager, said: “It’s so important for parents to have support during these unprecedented times, and we want to ensure that every family on the North Yorkshire Coast has access to activities that engage their children while supporting their literacy development – something that is essential in this area. There are a brilliant range of activities in the Family Zone for children from birth to age 12, from interactive workshops with amazing authors and illustrators to activity sheets featuring household favourites such as Hey Duggee and Mr Tumble.”

 

Over the coming weeks and months, the charity will be developing and publishing new and innovative content on Family Zone that will keep families engaged and motivated to learn and share stories together.

 

Visit literacyfamilyzone.org.uk