Reading activities for children
Reading and enjoying stories is about more than following the words on a page. It’s about exploring stories, understanding new ideas and developing your child’s reading skills.
You can help your child develop their reading skills and love of stories through fun, inclusive activities at home, school or in your community.
Here are a few ideas to get started:
World Braille Day
World Braille Day is celebrated every year on 4 January to honour Louis Braille, who invented the braille system. We’ve put together some inclusive activities to help children learn about braille, its history and how it’s used today:
Lots of Dots
Lots of Dots is a fun educational resource for schools, groups and families. It introduces the history and use of braille and contains inclusive activities for all children. Find the resource on our Braille page:
World Book Day
World Book Day is a worldwide celebration of reading for children and young people that takes place in March every year.
RNIB partners with organisations to mark the occasion by offering free books for children with vision impairment and inclusive activities for children and their families:
HiVis Fortnight
HiVis Fortnight takes place in the UK in the first two weeks of June and celebrates the role of public libraries in supporting people with vision impairment.
These inclusive activities give you some ideas for getting involved with your local library and the wider HiVis festival:
Lions International – Peace Poster and Essay Contest
Every year, young people aged 11 to 13 can enter the annual Lions Club International Peace Poster Contest with support from their local Lions Club.
Those with vision impairment can choose to enter the Lions Peace Essay Contest instead.
Find out more and check the eligibility criteria:
Get support for your poster or essay from your local Lions Club: Contact us | Lions Clubs International
Summer Reading Challenge
Take part in the Summer Reading Challenge at your library or online this summer.
It’s a free, fun summer-long activity where you can earn rewards for reading whatever you enjoy. You can join in with friends or family and you'll be sure to discover some amazing new books.
How it works:
- Visit your local library, set a reading goal and collect your own sticker booklet
- Read or listen to anything you like.
- Earn stickers, a certificate of achievement and maybe even a medal!*
*Participation dates, incentives and rewards vary between library services, please check your local library for more information.
Check out The Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge
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Further support
RNIB provides free, specialist advice and support for children and young people with vision impairment – from birth to age 25 – and their families.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, or you’d like more information about anything mentioned on this page, we can help.
We offer:
- family, early years and transitions support
- support for education professionals
- advice about accessible books, toys and learning materials
- opportunities to meet and talk with other families.
Please contact our Helpline on 0303 123 9999.