National Storytelling Week aims to promote traditional storytelling. It takes place annually and is now in its 15th year, this year running from 31 January to 7 February.
During her visit to the Westside Centre, Maria joined in one of the regular sessions of interactive play, songs, rhymes and a story, and met parents and their babies and children. She also met managers from the charity Action for Children, who manage all of the Children’s Centres in Basingstoke, and representatives from Hampshire County Council, to discuss current priorities and challenges.
Maria said: “It was great to meet parents and carers and hear about the support and activities that they can access at the Children’s Centre. It was also really enjoyable to see how the children reacted to storytelling, which is a fantastic way to develop their imagination, and also helps to promote a love of reading as they grow up.”