BookTrust Pyjamarama & Win A Ben & Holly Thistle Castle ♥

 *This is a charity awareness post on behalf of BookTrust. I have not received any compensation for this post & as always, all thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.

Books formed a big part of my childhood. I was always reading and looked forward to Saturdays when I got to visit the library and take home two books to read. When I had my own children I knew that I wanted books to form a big part of their lives too and have always encouraged them to look at books and enjoy a bedtime story (or two!) each night.

Reading the boys a bedtime story is one of my favourite parts of the day. It's a time where there's no rushing, we can cuddle up together or hold hands as I read and it's a lovely quiet moment (of an otherwise chaotic day) to enjoy with them.

They both have their favourite books. Tyler is a Paddington fan and Beau loves the classics such as Peepo!, which is a lot of fun to read. Now that Tyler is six and has learned his phonics and letters he's able to read some words with me too and it's lovely to be able to enjoy shared reading with him.

However, bedtime stories are at risk of being replaced by more modern forms of storytelling, according to new research. It seems that one in four (26%) of British parents are books for tech at bedtime, using the likes of home assistants, Facetime, apps and voice notes to give their children a bedtime story.

The busier life gets for parents, the more at risk bedtime stories are becoming. The poll conducted suggests that tech is picking up the slack for activities and moments which used to be staple aspects of parenting, with a whopping 65% of parents admitting to giving their child a smartphone or tablet in replace of a bedtime story.

In response to this, BookTrust (a charity who I have supported now for some years) and best-selling children's author of the Horrid Henry series (another of Tyler's favourites) Francesca Simon, are calling on parents to ditch the tech and rediscover the joy of reading bedtime stories to their children on June 7th by celebrating Pyjamarama.

Pyjamarama asks Brits to donate £1 to wear their pyjamas all day on June 7th and celebrate the joy of bedtime stories in any way they like! All funds raised will go towards helping BookTrust ensure that every child experiences the life changing benefits of access to books and reading.

Francesca Simon, bestselling author, comments: “Reading a bedtime story together is one of the best experiences a child and parent can share, and something tech cannot replace. The many evenings I spent immersed in books with my son, Joshua, until he was 11, not only inspired me to become a children’s author, but are also some of our best shared memories and gave my son the confidence, curiosity and thirst for learning that has set him up for life”.

Simon continues: “I’m supporting BookTrust’s Pyjamarama campaign because I’m hoping that on Friday 7th June, families will ditch the tech, pay a pound to put on their PJs and rediscover the joy of a bedtime story. Together we can help to raise money so that BookTrust can reach families everywhere with books and support, to ensure that no child IS missing out on the life changing benefits and joys of reading for pleasure”.

Gemma Malley, BookTrust Director, adds: “Life has never been busier and many parents are finding it harder and harder to fit in bedtime stories. I know from experience that it can be tempting to replace reading to your child with time on a device, but swapping books for tech can have profound consequences. However, just ten minutes of reading a book together a day makes such a difference – it helps build children’s language, resilience, confidence and imagination and is an amazing way families to bond. That’s why we want children and adults alike to celebrate Pyjamarama on Friday 7th June and help BookTrust in its tireless work to make sure that even more children get bedtime stories”.

Schools, nurseries, businesses and individuals can sign up for Pyjamarama fundraising packs by visiting: booktrust.org.uk/pyjamarama. All monies raised will go towards funding BookTrust’s work in supporting more families. For just £25, BookTrust could provide 15 pre-school children living in women’s refuge centres with their own book pack.

To celebrate the launch of Pyjamarama, BookTrust are giving one lucky winner the chance to win a Ben & Holly Thistle Castle Playset - I know Tyler would love this! This is a prize worth £30. To be in with a chance of winning simply enter via the Gleam widget below. Please read the terms & conditions before entering and best of luck to all who enter!

Terms & conditions:
1. This giveaway is open to residents of Ireland and the U.K. only.
2. This giveaway will run until June 9th at 11.59p.m. - a winner will then be chosen at random via the Gleam widget.
3. Invalid entries will be deleted without notice.
4. By entering this giveaway you are giving permission for your details to be passed on to the person sending your prize. The prize is being supplied directly by BookTrust.

Ben & Holly Thistle Castle Playset