Pūrākau pānui pukapuka, tuhi, whakarongo, kōrero Books and Storytelling

Offer a range of picture books:
Include books with varying levels of detail – from simple words to more complex stories – as your child’s abilities grow.

Explore fiction and non-fiction books:
A mix of books expands knowledge and nurtures imagination.

Include books and songs in your native language(s):
Where possible, keep books and sing songs in your child’s native language(s) to support their cultural identity and language development. 

Encourage conversations:
Discuss the ideas in the books. Use gestures or words and ask questions about what they see.

Bring stories to life:
Use puppets and props to make storytelling more engaging and inspire children to create their own stories.

Practice everyday storytelling:
Simple conversations about their day or activities help children develop storytelling skills.

Point out words and letters:
As you read together, point to words or letters that catch interest, demonstrating how reading works. 

Create your own book:
Turn an experience – like baking together, visiting the park or going on a trip – into a book. Take photos and help your child add words to the story.

Practical reading and writing:
Involve your child in real-life tasks like writing name tags, making birthday cards or reading recipes. 

Encourage visual storytelling:
Let children express their thoughts and ideas through drawing and painting, or other creative mediums.