Each year, World Book Day is celebrated across the UK on the first Thursday in March, bringing schools, families and childcare professionals together to promote a lifelong love of reading.
In recent years, the campaign has centred around the message “Read Your Way” — encouraging children to discover books in ways that suit their interests, personalities and developmental stages. For nannies, this is a powerful reminder that reading doesn’t have to mean sitting still and turning pages quietly. It can be playful, interactive, sensory and woven into everyday life from babies onwards.
Why the Early Years Matter So Much
Child development research increasingly highlights the importance of starting early. Developmental psychologist Sam Wass has spoken about how shared reading helps slow the pace of adult life down to match the rhythm babies and toddlers need. When adults pause, focus, and follow a child’s attention, it creates the ideal environment for learning.
Reading together in the early years supports:
- language development
- emotional bonding and attachment
- listening and attention skills
- early communication and turn-taking
- understanding of the world
But perhaps most importantly, it creates predictable moments of connection — something young children rely on to feel secure.
Making Time for Reading (Even When the Day Is Busy)
At the National Nanny Association, we recently surveyed nannies about preferred activities instead of screen time. Unsurprisingly, outdoor play came top — but reading ranked lower than expected.
Outdoor play is hugely valuable (and essential), but reading doesn’t need to compete with it. Instead, it can sit alongside it.
For example:
- a book before heading to the park
- a story linked to what you found outside
- reading during snack time
- a calming book before nap
Reading isn’t just a “sit down activity”. It’s a relationship activity.
For babies especially, even five minutes of focused shared reading can be more beneficial than a longer distracted session.
Practical Reading Strategies for Nannies (0–5 years)
Babies (0–12 months)
Focus on interaction, not finishing the book.
Try:
- board books with faces or high contrast images
- pointing and naming objects
- copying baby sounds back to them
- letting baby hold, chew and explore the book
Tip: Babies learn more from your voice and expression than the actual story.
Toddlers (1–3 years)
Expect movement — this is normal.
Try:
- lift-the-flap books
- animal sound books
- asking simple choices (“Where’s the dog?”)
- reading the same favourite book repeatedly
Tip: Repetition builds language pathways — boredom for adults often means learning for toddlers.
Preschoolers (3–5 years)
Now you can expand storytelling skills.
Try:
- asking “what do you think happens next?”
- linking stories to real life (“Remember when we saw a bus?”)
- letting children retell the story themselves
- acting out books with small-world toys
Tip: Story comprehension grows fastest when children actively join in.
Easy World Book Day Activity Ideas for Nannies
These are simple, low-prep, and realistic for home settings.
Story Basket | Story sacks
Choose one favourite book and create a small basket with:
- toy characters
- objects from the story
- themed sensory materials
Children can explore while you read.
Dress-Up Story Play
Instead of complicated costumes:
- use scarves for capes
- cardboard crowns
- animal ears
- kitchen utensils for props
Let the child become part of the story.
Outdoor Story Hunt
Take a book outside and:
- find objects from the story
- match colours
- look for animals mentioned
- read on a picnic blanket
This blends the outdoor priority nannies love with literacy development.
The Bigger Message for the Nanny Industry
For professional nannies, reading is not just a quiet-time filler. It is one of the most powerful developmental tools available — requiring no expensive equipment, structured lesson plans, or specialist training.
What matters most is:
✔ consistency
✔ shared attention
✔ warmth
✔ conversation
When a nanny reads with a child, they aren’t just sharing a story.
They’re building language, emotional security, and a lifelong relationship with books.
And that’s something worth celebrating every World Book Day!