Welcome to our first home learning page this year. Every Friday I will suggest some ideas for home learning to follow on from our learning at school.

I hope you enjoy trying some of the ideas – feel free to email me to let me know how you get on!

This week, why not make your own reading den at home. At school we have a lovely cosy book corner with a rug, cushions, beanbags and soft toy characters.

Here is a video with some ideas:

How to build a reading den
Reading dens are a way to bring that feeling into other parts of the day. Reading dens are special spaces to curl up with a book. They don’t need to be extravagant or permanent – in fact temporary dens, built from household objects are best.

There are loads of different ways to make one. Challenge your child to use a rug, sheet or even a pile of cushions to create a cubbyhole in an unexpected place.

You could turn a huge cardboard box into a reading castle, or drape a rug or sheet over a washing line to create a reading tent. Small children can even snuggle up under an umbrella on a rug.

To turn a den into a reading den, just add cushions, blankets… and books! Sitting down to read one or two books together is a reward at the end of the den building.

Children love the novelty of reading in unexpected places – outdoors, or in the dark with a torch. If you crawl in and share just one book with them, that’s a special experience.

The den might only last a few days or hours before you pack it up – but it’s the novelty that’s important. No expensive teepees or tree houses needed! And it’s fun to start from scratch again next time.

Reading dens will help your child to associate books with adventures – which is exactly what they are!