Positive relationships: A parent's guide to ... Bookstart

Q. What is Bookstart?

Bookstart is a national programme which aims to help inspire a love of reading in young children that will last for life. The scheme provides a free pack of books to every baby in the UK and encourages parents to share books with their children and enjoy stories, songs and rhymes from an early age.

Free Bookstart packs and guidance materials are provided at three key stages of development:

- Bookstart packs for babies at around eight months

- Bookstart Plus for toddlers at around 18 months

- My Bookstart Treasure Chest pack for pre-school children.

The first pack is distributed by health visitors at a child's seven- to nine-month health check and the other two are provided by libraries and early years settings.

Bookstart also promotes a range of activities for families with young children, which are held across the country in libraries, children's centres and other community locations. These activities include Bookstart Book Crawl, the Booktouch scheme for blind and partially sighted children, and Bookstart Rhymetime, when simple rhymes and songs are used to help children acquire language skills while having fun with their parents or carers.

Q. Why is it important to share books with young children?

Sharing books with babies and toddlers is a wonderful way to increase language skills and helps them to understand their world. The intimacy of sharing books with your child can strengthen the bond between you and, of course, it's fun!

Babies and toddlers who love books are likely to become confident learners and have a better start at school. Research has found that being involved in your child's learning from an early stage can lead to higher academic achievement, greater cognitive competence, greater problem-solving skills and greater school enjoyment.

Q. What is included in the packs?

Bookstart for Babies contains two board books, Babies Love Books, which is a specially written guide on sharing books, a booklist of books to share with your baby and an A4 laminated rhyme placemat.

Bookstart Plus gives a brightly coloured satchel containing two books, a colouring pad, a pack of crayons, a set of bookplates for children to stick in their own books, a suggested booklist for toddlers and a leaflet focusing on early language and listening skills.

The Bookstart Treasure Chest is a cardboard chest with two picture books, a guidance leaflet on the benefits of regular book sharing, a booklist for pre-school children, a set of bookplates, a pack of colouring pencils, a sharpener and a colouring book.

Blind and partially sighted babies and children have their own Booktouch pack. A cotton bag contains two touch- and-feel books, a leaflet with advice about reading with blind and partially sighted children, a list of recommended books, and a leaflet listing useful services related to reading.

Q. How does Bookstart work?

The scheme is administered by the charity Booktrust and supported by the Government. Bookstart also depends on sponsorship from children's publishers, who provide more than four million books each year books at a nominal cost or free.

For further information, enquire at your local library or early years setting or visit www.bookstart.org.uk.