Big Welsh Rhyme Time: What’s happening 10th to 14th February 2020

Published on: 13 January 2020 Author: BookTrust Cymru

Here at BookTrust Cymru we can’t wait for Big Welsh Rhyme Time. Our Wales-wide celebration of songs and rhymes is taking place 10th – 14th 2020. It aims to promote and encourage fun and enjoyable rhyme sharing activity for children in Wales aged 0-5, in Welsh and English.

Here’s a roundup of all the rhyming fun coming your way. We hope you’re as excited as we are!

Gruffudd Owen, Bardd Plant Cymru (Welsh-language Children’s Laureate), is writing a special poem for Big Welsh Rhyme Time. This poem will bring the magic of rhyming words to life.

Our Big Welsh Rhyme Time competition gives a chance to win a box books for your family, school or library! We want to know what rhyme makes you smile. Our website will be open for entries throughout the Big Welsh Rhyme Time week – get your thinking caps on!

20,000 stickers and certificates will be given away to practitioners working with children and families in Wales.

With Books Council of Wales we’re putting together a booklist of our favourite rhyming books in Welsh and English. Look out for this for rhyming books you can pick up at your local library or bookshop.

We’re also going to have exciting guest blogs, videos with top tips for rhyming and social cards for everyone to share online.

Keep up to date on all the latest Big Welsh Rhyme Time news

Support for Big Welsh Rhyme Time 2020

‘Early Years Wales is delighted to be supporting Book Trust Cymru in celebrating the Big Welsh Rhyme Time.  We know from our work that introducing rhymes into family life, toddler groups,  pre-school playgroups and nurseries encourages a playful approach to language and social skills development and supports holistic development of babies and very young children. It leads to lifelong enjoyment and fun for all. We look forward to working with you.’

‘PACEY Cymru are pleased to be supporting BookTrust’s Big Welsh Rhyme Time. Learning nursery rhymes are particularly important in the early years as it provides a rich vocabulary for children. Being rhythmical allows the child to follow a tone and pattern, skills which are essential for early language development. Being offered rhymes and songs bilingually will again help further develop the skills and provide a strong foundation for speech, language and communication skills.’

‘Literature Wales is pleased to support BookTrust’s Big Welsh Rhyme Time 2020. Increasing the opportunities for children and young people to experience the joy of literature is one of our main priorities as an organisation. We’re also pleased to continue our partnership with BookTrust Cymru; working together to improve the lives and well-being of the future generations in Wales.’

‘The Books Council of Wales are thrilled to be part of the Big Welsh Rhyme Time. Offering opportunities to share stories in a fun and interactive way in the early years are vital in developing oracy skills for young readers.  From contemporary rhyming storybooks to anthologies of traditional nursery rhymes, books can enrich these experiences and be a valuable tool for families and practitioners to bring rhyming to life. Simple rhymes can also provide an introduction into the Welsh language, culture and heritage, opening the door to a bilingual future.’

'SCL Cymru are proud to support The Big Welsh Rhyme Time, with library staff delivering and facilitating hundreds of sessions across Wales, helping parents and children to discover what libraries have to offer. Enjoying rhymes, songs and stories from a young age helps children to learn, socialise, play and, most of all, to have fun. We are sure that it will inspire parents to register little ones for their first library card, as well as offering opportunities for all ages to make friends in a safe and welcoming social space. Plus with colourful stickers and certificates to take home as a reminder, we’re confident that the lively songs and rhymes will continue to live on at bath-times, bedtimes and beyond.'

'Health Visitors throughout Wales participate in the Bookstart programme which provides bilingual reading material for parents to share with their babies. This has helped promote bilingualism, parent and baby time, speech and language development and children’s love of books. Sharing rhymes and songs is a key part of this. Health Visitors value this resource.'
Lesley Hill, Chair of the Heads of Health Visiting Forum and Senior Nurse Manager for Health Visiting in Hywel Dda.