Support for Kinship Carers
Sharing stories helps build emotional connections.


Sharing stories with your child is a great way to have a moment of closeness and connection. Find tips, videos and support for unlocking the magic of stories below and on Kinship Compass. It can help build bonds, underpin stability and create moments of joy.
This support has been developed with kinship carers and the charity Kinship as part of a new training service for the Department for Education’s Kinship Care Strategy.
It is for all kinship carers in England including informal kinship carers, special guardians and kinship foster carers. New resources and training will be added regularly and look out for the BookTrust stall at each of Kinship’s upcoming roadshows.
A kinship carer is someone who steps in to raise a child when their parents can’t. They’re usually grandparents, aunts or uncles, brothers or sisters and sometimes friends.
How do I get started?
- Remember there is no right or wrong way to share a story
- You can share stories anytime, anywhere
- You don’t have to read a book cover to cover, you can just dip in and out
Book recommendations for kinship carers



Helpful information
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Search thousands of hand-picked book recommendations to find a child’s next favourite read – from astonishing adventures to fantastic facts, our Bookfinder tool will help you discover the very best kids’ books
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Looking for something fun as a family? Enjoy storytime with our free online books and videos, play games, win prizes, or even learn how to draw some of your favourite characters.
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Starting a reading routine with a child in your care is like opening the door to new adventures. Whether you’re a foster carer, kinship carer, or adoptive parent, reading together can build trust, share laughs, and create special memories. Here’s how to get started and keep it fun and relaxed…
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Sharing stories is a simple yet powerful way to establish and nurture bonds with the child in your care. It’s not just about reading the words on a page, but creating moments of connection, calm, and joy.
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We support parents, carers and families to get reading with their children from their earliest days because sharing stories together regularly, in the early years and beyond, has transformative and lifechanging benefits.