Think it’s time to get your kids into reading? Want to share your love of books with your little ones?
Well, look no further because the Bord Gáis Energy Little Readers campaign is back and has lots of free books for kids under the age of five.
Now in its third year, the initiative encourages reading from an early age and this time they have 5,000 fantastic books for children all over Ireland.
Better yet, they can enjoy them for free. All you have to do is register for a free Little Readers book by signing up to the Bord Gáis Energy Book Club.
Speaking about the campaign, childhood development expert David Carey told us: “Parents should read with their children. By that, I mean reading to the child and letting the child read to them. Doing so demonstrates not only the importance of reading but the fun and joy of being together with books.”
He added: “As a psychologist and educationalist, I know that children who are given books at an early age do better in school, have a more vivid imagination, better vocabulary and a more inquiring mind… Nothing stimulates the imagination more than reading and an active imagination is the foundation of all learning.”
Carey stressed the importance of introducing reading at an early stage: “Children need to be involved in a print-rich environment early on. It can be books, magazines, comics, newspapers – it really doesn’t matter.
“When children are stimulated by seeing reading material in the home and seeing their parents read, they begin to love the idea of reading. This will make them better learners in school.”
Claire Smith with Bord Gáis Energy said: “We’ve seen a huge response to Little Readers for two years in a row now which is fantastic. The benefits of reading with children from a young age are well documented and we’re hoping that this year parents and guardians all over the country will get involved and register for a free book.
“As part of the campaign, we’re also delighted to support our charity partner Focus Ireland by donating books for children under 5 living in emergency homeless accommodation across the country.”
As if that isn’t reason enough to get involved in this worthwhile cause, the energy company has also pledged to donate a book to charity partner Focus Ireland for every young child in emergency homeless accommodation across Ireland.
Little Readers books are free for all children under the age of five whose parents/guardians are members of the Bord Gáis Energy Book Club. To register for the Book Club and apply for your free Little Readers book, click here. (Please note there is a maximum of two books per household.)
