5th March 2015 is World Book Day - here are ten simple and fun ideas for creative activities to try with the kids.
Write a letter to your favourite book character
Helping your child pen a letter to their favourite book character is a great way to develop comprehension skills. Check out Crayon and Freckles for ideas on how to create a mailbox to 'post' their letters.
Read a book from another culture
Wonderful as they are for inspiring the imagination, Western prints of fairy tales can be very narrow in their cultural view. It's never too early to start broadening a child's understanding of cultures beyond their own. Or how about reading a well-loved classic in an unfamiliar language - the pictures will be the same, but the words and perhaps the lettering will be unfamiliar, making for a great exploring activity and a chance to discuss other languages. In the Playroom has a great round up of children's books in Arabic.
Make a bookmark
From basic ones cut out of felt, to beautiful bookmarks made from the pages of books like these from Red Ted Art, making bookmarks is fun and can be enjoyed long after World Book Day is over.
Sing a song
Nursery rhymes are a great place to start, or you could try writing your own, or try making up your own tune for familiar books written in verse. Imagine what the Gruffalo would sound like if set to a score.
Bake a story
Baking for World Book Day is loads of fun - you can get as creative as you like and then eat the results. We love these super cute Monsters Inc cookies from Mummy Constant.
Dress up
How about one of the pirates from The Troll by Julia Donaldson, as created by blogger Mummy of Two? Or this The Rainbow Fish costume from Here Come the Girls?
There are loads more costume ideas here on Boo Roo and Tigger Too.
Finger puppets
Finger puppets can be made in minutes with felt or paper and can be a great way to facilitate role play. They're great for stories involving groups of characters, such as the Three Little Pigs.
Make a mask
Get creative with paper, felt, sponges or plastic to create masks. You could start from scratch, pick up basic masks from the craft store, or this caterpillar is part of a craft kit from the official Eric Carle range.
Put on a play
With the kids all dressed up in their World Book Day costumes, why not try acting out some of their favourite scenes. Or better still, put on a play imagining what would happen if The Gruffalo met The Cat in the Cat, or if Harry Potter met Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz!
Give the gift of reading
If you want to nurture a child's passion for reading, giving a book as a gift is a great place to start.
Can't get to the shops? Perhaps your child would like to give a copy of their favourite book to their sibling or best friend, so that they can share in the story together.
So that's 10 ideas for World Book Day. What would you add?
Have you got my book?
'This is a great kids cookery book. Emily is a star' - Simon Rimmer
'The book I'd like to force into any mother's kitchen' - Prue Leith
"A fab book with a plan." - Jane Devonshire, 2016 Masterchef UK winner
'Emily has managed to combine her mummy knowledge and passion for food to make a truly helpful and brilliant cookbook' - Priya Tew, RD, BSc (Hons), Msc
Get Your Kids to Eat Anything is an achievable 'how to' for parents in the battle to overcome picky eating and 'make new the norm'. Emily Leary's unique 5-phase programme looks at the issue of 'fussy eating' in a holistic way that links imagination with food, and which situates parents alongside - not in opposition to - their children.
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Sonia Constant says
WOW some awesome ways to celebrate world book day! Thank you for using my Monsters Inc recipe. :)
Keri-Anne says
Such wonderful ideas :) Thank you for sharing them all x
Kizzy says
Some fantastic ideas here!
Anna J says
I love the idea of writing to your favourite character. x
Lori says
Great collection of ideas, I like the bake a story idea and that rainbow fish is amazing!
Kara Guppy says
Adore the idea of baking a story and that costume is just amazing!
Sarah Bailey says
What some great ideas - I love the idea of writing to your favourite character I would have loved that as a child. x
Mammasaurus says
What great ideas Emily!
Vaichin @Rambling Through Parenthood says
Some really great ideas here. How cute are the pirate and rainbow fish costumes!
Charly Dove says
Wow so many brilliant ideas there Emily. I love the mask and anything that involves dressing up gets my vote! Really nice idea to bake a story too, yours would always look amazing :)