A mum with dyslexia has overcome her own learning difficulties to help hundreds of children find a love of stories.
Emma Nelson, 34, struggled for years at school with reading and writing, and needed additional help in the classroom as well as speech and language therapy.
But, despite the difficulties she faced, she never lost her love of literacy and stories and is now passing on her passion to children through her group My Story Adventures.
The group, which takes place every Monday at The Exchange in North Shields, sees children being taken into an interactive world of storybooks using role play, dress-up, multi-sensory activities, music and craft.
Emma, mum to Harris, age three, said: “My own experience of having dyslexia has really encouraged me to help children with their own learning journey.
“Sometimes school is very task driven and I struggled with that way of learning. There is no ‘one size fits all’ with how children learn, and I discovered that first-hand.
“My Story Adventures nurtures how different children interact and play with the idea of stories, allowing them to put their own meaning and creativity into them.
“I have been running for almost two years and it is amazing to watch the children’s growth. I see them leaving more confident and passionate about stories, about reading and writing when they go to school.
“Research shows that reading improves wellbeing and we are laying the foundations for this at My Story Adventures.”
Since My Story Adventures began, Emma, who has a degree in Early Childhood Studies and has worked in early years for 10 years, has encouraged hundreds of children discover a love of stories.
And parents say their children, aged 0-five, have thrived thanks to Emma and My Story Adventures.
Laura Hill, mum to 15-month-old Ned, said: “I have been coming here since Ned was eight months old and he loves it.
“Ned has loved books since a young age, but this session brings books to life in so many more ways than we can at home.
“It is so interactive, and it is different every week. Emma puts so much into it and makes sure there are lots of different things going on all the time for the children.
“It really is a lovely place to bring my son.”
For more information on My Story Adventures go to mystoryadventures.co.uk, or Facebook/MyStoryAdventures.