Bright Little Stars was delighted to host A Magical Online Storytime last month, a virtual event that brought nursery and reception children together for an evening filled with imagination, laughter and a love for stories. Families joined us online to enjoy live readings by a wonderful line-up of children’s authors and early years experts, all in support of Barnardo’s.
The Importance of Reading from an Early Age
Reading plays a vital role in early childhood development. Research shows that children who are read to every day are twice as likely to develop strong literacy skills by the age of five. Just ten minutes of shared reading each day can also make a big difference in boosting language, communication, and emotional development.
Ofsted continues to highlight reading as a central part of a strong curriculum, particularly in the Early Years Foundation Stage, where it supports key areas such as imagination, communication, and future learning success.
An Inspiring Line-Up of Storytellers
Children and families enjoyed a wonderful selection of stories shared by a talented group of authors and early years professionals. Each story was chosen to inspire curiosity, creativity, and a sense of joy through reading.
Our storytellers included Neil Griffiths reading Itchy Bear, Ben Kingston-Hughes with The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Dewalt, Gabby Dawney sharing If I Had a Dinosaur, Alice Sharp with If You’re Happy and You Know It and Jay Walternash reading Luna the Cat’s Intriguing Tales: The Chase.
Former England footballer Kelly Smith MBE closed the event with a lively and memorable reading of The Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, leaving children engaged and inspired.
Supporting Children’s Development Through Storytime
Early years experts joined the event to share helpful insights into how regular shared reading supports communication, personal and emotional development, and early literacy. These moments reminded us how simple daily routines like reading a bedtime story can have a powerful impact on a child’s learning and wellbeing.
