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If you are involved in the education of early years children then you will soon find yourself employing a not inconsiderable number of story books. You will need a considerable quota of additional resources to put to work alongside the story books so you will probably save a considerable amount of time if you use specially prepared primary teaching resources. It is possible to find comprehensive story sacks but you can compile your own without much trouble using story resources.

A good quality story book is the basis of a story sack. The story sack usually consists of support materials that aid the creativity and enjoyment of learning to love books and reading.The story sack is often made from a large cloth bag containing resources such as puppets, soft toys and a game to stimulate reading and language activities. There is usually a CD with the story recorded onto it so the children can follow the story and act it out. Many story sacks will have more than one story book connected to the same topic. A good story sack will also have an associated non-fiction book too.

Settings that cater for young children will often have a library or reading area and within that area story sacks will often be found. Young children become familiar from a very young age with particular nursery rhymes and stories. As young children become more confident with a text they will begin to become more creative and confident in developing their language skills. Story sacks are a great way to foster this development as the children use the contents and bring meaning to the story.

Since the 1990′s story sacks have become more widely available. They can be purchased on line, and may be available to borrow from libraries and centres that cater for the development of families with young children. There are increasingly more volunteer groups being asked to help towards creating resources to support story sacks. There are a wide variety of story sacks available so act wisely when researching the best resources.

Some of the better story sacks include a wide variety of materials for you the user to save time with preparation. The best have a guide that will include further ideas, activities and links to relevant sources. They include ideas that can be used across the curriculum and not just literacy skills. They may link with early maths and science concepts and include craft activities, singing and cooking ideas.

Story sacks can help towards producing some of the most lively creative teaching and learning in early years settings. They are fun and make positive learning links for young children. Neil Griffiths, a Head Teacher from Swindon, first started developing the idea of story sacks for young children. He recognised that story sacks could help the story teller, whether this was a parent, grand parent, teaching assistant or teacher. Story sacks can be shared in a lively, positive,creative and non-threatening manner to help young children foster an interest in books.

As story sacks have become more popular their use has spread to agencies, groups and institutions other than schools and pre-school settings. Libraries, childminders, after school clubs, speech therapists and children’s hospitals are now finding story sacks a beneficial resource. Teachers of children that have specific learning needs are also finding story sacks help create positive results.

One of the most positive sides to story sacks are the opportunities that they give to young children to use them independently and in small groups. Once the child is familiar with the story and the contents of the sack they are able to explore the story and re-tell it using the supporting props. This helps to develop their independence, sharing, taking turns, and will help develop their confidence and language skills.

To find a really good source of story sacks try to find a supplier that offers a CD with a wealth of teaching ideas and resources linked to the main story. These will save you so much time in preparation and will give you and your children hours of enjoyment and learning. The best suppliers will have key words, labels, number activities, creative ideas, language activities, colouring, tracing, masks and many other activities that will enhance the learning experience.

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