Reading is one of the most important skills a child will ever learn, but it’s also one that needs gentle support beyond the classroom. Story and activity books offer a wonderful way to bring learning into everyday life without pressure.
At Willow Hart Books, our Jay’s Pony Tales series combines storytelling and learning in a way that feels fun and natural. Here are some simple ways parents can use story and activity books to strengthen literacy skills at home.
Make Reading a Shared Experience
Children learn best when reading is shared. Reading aloud together builds connection and helps children hear the rhythm and flow of language. You can take turns reading pages, or you can read a story to your child while they follow along with their finger.
Ask questions along the way. “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why do you think Jay is feeling sad?” These little conversations build comprehension skills and keep your child engaged.
Reinforce Learning with Activities
What makes Jay’s Pony Tales special is the way each story is paired with activities. After finishing a story, your child might complete a word search, a comprehension quiz, or a drawing page linked to what they’ve read.
These activities help solidify learning by asking children to recall details, practise new vocabulary and express understanding in different ways. It turns reading from a passive task into an interactive experience.
Keep Sessions Short and Fun
When practising literacy at home, short sessions are best. Aim for 10 to 15 minutes of focused reading or activity, followed by praise and encouragement.
Children respond well to positivity. Celebrate small wins, like reading a tricky word or finishing a page independently. The goal is to build confidence, not perfection.
Connect Stories to Real Life
Linking what your child reads to real experiences helps deepen understanding. After reading a story about Jay visiting the farm, you could talk about real animals or even plan a family trip to a local petting farm.
This connection between story and reality makes learning memorable and exciting.
Encourage Creativity Through Writing and Drawing
If your child enjoys the story, encourage them to write or draw their own version. They might invent a new farm character or imagine what Jay does next. Activities like this strengthen writing skills and help children think creatively about language.
Above all, reading should feel joyful. Children who associate reading with warmth and connection are far more likely to develop a lifelong love for it.
The Jay’s Pony Tales books are perfect for nurturing that love, with stories that are engaging, beautifully illustrated and built to match early reading stages.
Start small, keep it positive, and let every session end with a smile.