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Parents who read 1 picture book with their children every day provide their children with exposure to an estimated 78,000 words each a year.

Cumulatively, over the 5 years before reception entry, it is estimated that children from literacy-rich homes hear a cumulative 1.4 million more words during storybook reading than children who are never read to.

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The Gap

The "million-word gap" refers to the significant difference in vocabulary and language development between children who are frequently read to and those who are not, with children who are read to regularly hearing significantly more words by age 5. According to a recent study that will be published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, here’s the number of words kids will hear by the time they are 5-years-old: 

  • Never read to: 4,662 words

  • 1-2 times per week: 63,570 words 

  • 3-5 times per week: 169,520 words 

  • Read daily: 296,660 words

  • Read five books a day: 1,483,300 words​

 

Our goal at The Story Sack is simple - to help children to fall in love with reading through play to close the gap.

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Our sessions not only dive into a great book but they show children the endless play opportunities that can be found in a story.

Join us for a story!

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