Parents
Discover ways to support your child's reading from an early age and give them a head start with learning to read through our interactive, sensory storytelling and drama classes.
Helping you to inspire a love of reading and learning in your children from an early age and empowering you to explore books together.
F Olney
A Spicer
A Hopgood
Free Resources
We are passionate about helping parents to bring story books to life at home for their little ones
and we hope that these resources help you to do just that...
5 Ways to Engage your Little one in Books and Reading
Helping children to fall in love with books and reading is so important and vital for their development. Reading together provides an opportunity for connection, feeds their imagination, helps their understanding of new situations, teaches vital skills and is a lot of fun.
Download these 5 TOP TIPS to help engage, excite and enter into the wonderful, imaginative world of books.
How to Make Up a Story for Your Little One?
Making up stories has so many benefits as you can tailor the story to your own child. These stories can create a calming moment when needed, help reduce anxiety when going somewhere or doing something new, they can help recall experiences and provide teachable moments for our little ones.
Download this FREE resource to find out how.
How to Help Your Wriggly Toddler Engage in Books This guide will give you practical tips and advice on how to you help your little if they are on the move and less keen on sitting reading a book.
Although, snuggling together on the sofa to read a book is lovely, this isn't the only way we can read stories with our little ones.
Download this guide to find out more.
This guide will give you practical tips and advice on how to you help your little if they are on the move and less keen on sitting reading a book.
Although, snuggling together on the sofa to read a book is lovely, this isn't the only way we can read stories with our little ones.
Download this guide to find out more.
Top Tips for Reading to Your Baby
It may feel strange or awkward reading to your baby.
You may feel like it's better to wait until your baby can talk or know the meaning of different words.
But reading to your baby from newborn has so many benefits for both of you and this guide is here to help with 5 Top Tips.
DOWNLOAD for FREE
How to Help Your Wriggly Toddler Engage in Books
This guide will give you practical tips and advice on how to you help your little if they are on the move and less keen on sitting reading a book.
Although, snuggling together on the sofa to read a book is lovely, this isn't the only way we can read stories with our little ones.
Download this guide to find out more.
Zip and Friends
Zip is an adventurous pup, who explores the different colours of the rainbow. He is in charge of our special story sack at Little Story Shapers, which has inside the different book we bring to life each week.
Zip helps get our imaginations warmed up as we sprinkle ourselves with imagination dust.
Fruit Colour Splat!
This game has a huge range of different activities you can do to support your little ones communication and boost their vocabulary.
Simply download the resource by clicking the button below, print, cut out the splats and start playing!
FAQ's
Here to help
1. How long is a Little Story Shapers Class?
A Little Story Shapers class is 45minutes. We begin with our welcome song and sign hello to each of our little ones, allowing everyone to settle in and learn each other’s names. We then read the story over the duration of the class, stopping to bring parts to life. We finish each class with a calming song and sensory lights.
2. Is it ok to feed and change by baby in class?
Yes of course. You are very welcome to feed and change your baby on the mats provided. Alternatively, all venues have baby change facilities if you would prefer to use these. We are a breast and bottle feeding friendly class and chairs are available if you find this more comfortable.
Due to allergies, we ask all parents to keep food in their bags and if your little one requires a snack, please do so outside of the room where class is taking place.
3. I have never been to a baby and toddler class before, what should I expect?
If Little Story Shapers is your first class, I would like to firstly say thank you so much for choosing us. We pride ourselves in the warm, welcoming environment of our classes.
You can expect to have the opportunity to bond, connect and spend time with your baby. Over the duration of the class we will read a story book, stopping along the way to allow your little one to explore a range of sensory props, songs, bubbles, a parachute and calming lights.
4. How is the class structured?
An individual props bag is laid out ready for you to dive straight into when you arrive. Allowing your little one to be entertained from the beginning.
We begin with our welcome song and sign hello to each of our little ones, allowing everyone to settle in and learn each others names.
We then read the story over the duration of the class, stopping to bring parts to life along the way.
We finish each class with a calming song and sensory lights.
5. What should I do if my child is not keen on sitting still?
No need to worry! All of our little ones are free to explore and move around the room during the class. They will be up on their feet acting out parts of the story with a huge range of different props and activities to keep them engrossed and engaged in the story.
6. Is class suitable for children with additional learning needs?
Yes definitely. At Little Story Shapers we pride ourselves in being inclusive for all and our classes have been designed by a fully qualified Primary school teacher with 12 years experience working with children who have additional learning needs.
7. My little one is shy/nervous/anxious. Is class suitable for them?
Yes, our classes are suitable for all children and we work very closely with those children who may feel shy or nervous about coming to a class to help reassure them and allow them to settle in.
Additional support can be given to help your child before you even come to class in the form of a video recorded message or photos of the class set up to help prepare children for coming to class.
8. What happens if I miss a class?
Please refer to our Terms and Conditions regarding missed classes and refunds.
