Whilst literacy skills usually develop in the first year of primary school, the precursory language tools start as soon as a new-born baby begins to recognise faces and respond to his or her surroundings so parents play a significant role as the first teachers of their children.

Soon after the introduction of compulsory schooling in Britain in 1880, the question of when formal education should begin was posed. Experts from that time until the current time advocate the importance of play rather than formal lessons for the under-fives.

Contemporary research makes it clear that when parents engage in reading activities (reading stories together at bedtime or visiting local libraries) with their preschool age children, the impact can still be measured at age 10.

Whatever games and activities parents undertake with their preschool aged children, the focus should be on encouragement and affirmation of the skills that are developing and not the results that are produced.

Parents interested in engaging with developmental activities at home can download The Department for Education’s Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage which outlines the suggested patterns of development in children from birth to 5 years of age and encourages learning through structured and unstructured play.

To read the full article click on the pdf below.

Download article Helping Your Child With Literacy

Aldershot based promotional pens manufacturer, The Pen Warehouse, is helping staff to improve their health with a stop smoking initiative.

The company will fund two employees a month to attend the Allen Carr Easyway Clinic. The clinic has helped millions of people across the world to stop smoking and employees at The Pen Warehouse will now be able to join them.

The course costs £250 per person, which will be met by the Pen Warehouse, and employees will be able to attend during working hours.  The company is also funding a trial of electronic cigarettes, providing ten employees each with a pack worth £20.00.

Speaking about the initiative, Neil Cleere, Managing Director at The Pen Warehouse said: “Approximately 25% of our employees smoke but helping to keep our staff in good health is in everyone’s interest.   I understand how difficult it is for people to stop so that’s why I’m looking at different ways to support and encourage them;  if I can lengthen the life of any one of my staff by just one day I will regard it as worthwhile.”

A metal pen always makes a great executive gift. We all use pens every day so if you choose a smart metal pen, you know it will be kept and used displaying and reminding your customers and prospects of your brand and message on a daily basis.

Atlas Metal Ball Pens are a smart range on anodized aluminium personalised pens available in 3 striking colours with contrasting silver push-buttons, clips and nose cones for a smart up-market look. They are supplied fitted with high quality black ink refills as standard. Choose your unusual colour from: blue, red or gold.

Our minimum order quantity is just 100 printed pens so they make perfect customer gifts for any occasion as well as being suitable for events, promotions and they make perfect incentives and prizes. Prices start from an incredible 62p each which is a great price for a stunning metal pen. This price includes your logo and message printed in a single colour on the barrels. You have the choice of 3 barrel print areas, either below the clips 40mm x 25mm or beside the clips 50mm x 25mm. Multi-colour printing is also available for extra impact in up to 3 spot colours. You may also engrave your design; the base metal is aluminium which will give you a smart silver finish.

Why not present your promotional pens in a pen box or clear double ended tube? Not only will these add value to your great gifts but they are a great way to hand them out at events and presentations.

If you have any questions or would like a free quote, just give our helpful Customer Service team a call. We are always happy to help and want to talk to you. We can be contacted on: 01252 796 867

If you have a green event coming up, you will be looking for some great quality pens made from recycled and biodegradable materials and at a great price too. We have many ranges to choose from and today’s featured range is priced to clear, so place your order while stocks last.

Biocorn Ball Pens are a smart range of white push-button personalised pens with a choice of 6 brightly coloured clips and trims. They are made from recycled corn starch and are biodegradable. Choose your trim colour from: black, blue, green, orange, red or plain white. They come supplied fitted with black ink refills as standard.

Our minimum order quantity is 250 printed pens so they are suitable for all events. Prices start from a low 21p each and this great low price includes your logo and message printed in a single colour on the barrels. Your barrel print area is beside the clips 45mm x 8mm and multi-colour printing is also available in up to 3 spot colours for added impact. Your logo and message will really stand out on the crisp white barrels.

They are also perfect as promotional giveaways at trade shows and exhibitions. Don’t forget to always hand out a pen with your brochures and catalogues as they will be put into pockets and bags immediately.

If you would like to grab these eco-friendly promotional pens for your next event before they are sold out, call our friendly Customer Service team now. We are always happy to help and we are waiting to talk to you. You can reach us during normal business hours from Monday-Friday on: 01252 796 867

Are you looking for great quality recycled pens, a superfast printing service and incredible value for money, if so you have come to the right place? At The Pen Warehouse we have a huge selection for you to choose from, suitable for all your green events so, whether you are looking for a pen made from recycled or biodegradable materials of FSC certified wood, we have them all.

Panther Eco Extra Ball Pens are our best sellers and are made from recycled plastic. This push-button range has been revised for this year and now has a new stylish modern clip. These personalised pens come with brilliant white barrels and a choice of 4 bold colourful clips, nose-cones and push-buttons. Choose your trim colour from: red, black, blue or green. Our Panthers are supplied fitted with black ink refills as standard and carry a registered trademark and design.

Both the barrels and clips can be printed for maximum impact and your generous barrel print area is 40mm x 20mm, your clip print area is 20mm x 4mm so your logo and messages will really stand out against the crisp white barrels. Multi-colour printing is also available in up to 3 spot colours.

If you would like to take a closer look at this popular range, watch the video at www.promotional.tv/aa029

Our minimum order quantity is 250 printed pens so they are suitable for both large and small events. Prices start from an amazing low 18p each and this low price includes your single colour print to the barrels.

If you are in a hurry, we have some more good news; we can offer our superfast same day printing service on this great range at no additional charge to you. This special offer is for a single colour print to the barrels and on orders of 5000 promotional pens or less.

Call our friendly Customer Service team now if you would like to see your company logo on this incredible range. We are standing by waiting to talk to you and we can be contacted on: 01252 796 867

If you are looking for some smart metal pens for your next event, you have found the right place. At The Pen Warehouse we have the largest selection of top quality metal personalised pens that you will find, in many styles and colours with twist-actions, push-buttons and capped, at the best prices you will find.

Sonata Metal Ball Pens have a smart eye-catching executive look. They come with highly lacquered barrels in a choice of 5 colours for a brilliant shine and have contoured black rubber grips for a comfortable hold and feel. High quality polished chrome clips and trims complete the overall look. Choose your shiny colour from: red, blue, green, satin silver or white. This twist-action range is supplied fitted with high quality black documental ink refills as standard.

Our minimum order quantity is just 50 printed pens so they make popular executive and customer gifts for all occasions and events. Prices start from just 82p each which is an amazing price for a top quality stylish pen and this great price includes your logo and message printed on the barrels in a single colour. You have the choice of 2 print areas on the barrels, either below the clips 25mm x 20mm or beside the clips 45mm x 7mm. Multi-colour printing is also offered in up to 3 spot colours for added impact. We can also offer engraving and if you choose to engrave, the base metal is aluminium which will give you a smart silver finish.

You really won’t be able to beat this range for style, quality and incredible value for money. These smart promotional pens will be kept and used probably every day showing off your brand.

It still gets better; we are offering a free clear double ended presentation tube with every pen so they are ready to hand out at your events.

If you would like a free no-obligation quote, just give our helpful Customer Service team a call. We are always happy to help and we can be reached on: 01252 796 867

If you have an eco-friendly event coming up, you will be looking for some great pens made from recycled and biodegradable materials. At The Pen Warehouse, we have the largest selection of great quality personalised pens suitable for any green event at amazing low prices and we can also offer many of our ranges in FSC certified wood sourced from responsibly managed and sustainable forests.

Recycled Paper Pens are a firm favourite. This cap-less stick-pen range is made from layers of recycled paper and they come in 5 great colours and are supplied fitted with black ink refills as standard. Choose your colour from: red, natural, black, green or blue.

Our minimum order quantity is 250 printed pens so they are suitable for all events. Prices start from an amazing 10p each, yes, from just 10p each which is a fantastic price and it includes your logo and message printed in a single colour on the barrels. Your generous print area is 45mm x 20mm so your brand will be highly visible. This range is suitable for single colour printing only.

At the great low price, these cheap promotional pen make great promotional giveaways at trade shows and exhibitions. They are also perfect for charities, conservation groups, garden centres and any business that is focused on protecting our precious environment.

If you would like these popular promotional pens for your next eco-friendly event, just give our friendly Customer Service team a call. We are always happy to help and we can be contacted during normal business hours on: 01252 796 867

If you are looking for an absolute bargain, you have come to the right place! We have just added a new silver pen to our popular Absolute range that is bound to be a winner at any event. Silver pens will always add a touch of class and flair to your brand and this new range is offered at a great low price too.

Absolute Argent Ball Pen comes with a satin silver barrel and a huge choice of 10 brightly coloured polished translucent clips so there is bound to be a colour to match your corporate logo or event. These push-button personalised pens are brand new this year and are selling fast. Choose your translucent clip colour from: magenta, aqua, green, yellow, orange, purple, red, blue, silver or solid black (please note the black clips are solid, not translucent.) High quality black ink refills are fitted as standard.

Our minimum order quantity is 250 printed pens so they are perfect for both large and small events. Prices start from an amazing 18p each and this great low price includes your logo and messages printed in a single colour on the large print area on the barrels. Clip prints are also available so why not print on both so your brand can be seen in shirt pockets! Your generous barrel print area is 50mm x 20mm and your clip print area is 30mm x 6mm. For added impact, we can also offer multi-colour printing in up to 3 spot colours.

If you are on a tight deadline, ask us about our express 24-hour printing service which is also available on this range.

If you would like these stunning inexpensive satin silver promotional pens for your next event, call our helpful Customer Service team for an instant quote. We are waiting to hear from you and we can be reached on: 01252 796 867

There are often occasions when you need more than one ink colour in your pens so a smart pen with a choice of ink colours will be a winner at any event. At the Pen Warehouse we specialise in top quality personalised pens to suit all promotions and events and we have something for every budget too.

Duo Twist Ball Pens will be popular at all events. This smart range comes with gleaming white barrels so your logo and message will really stand out. They are really 2 gifts in 1 as they have a black ink pen at one end and a red ink pen at the other. At both ends they have small rubber pads for grip in the colour of the ink so the pads are red at one end and black at the other end.

Our minimum order quantity is 250 printed pens making them suitable for all events. Prices start from just 23p each and this low price includes your logo and message printed in a single colour on the barrels. This range is suitable for single colour printing only. Your large print area is 45mm x 20mm. This is a great price for what really is 2 useful gifts.

These promotional pens are ideal for schools, colleges, teachers, meetings, conferences, presentation as well as all office departments, particularly accounts departments. It is so annoying having to rummage through drawers looking for a different ink colour when you need one so here you have the choice of 2 colours all in one handy place.

If you would like this useful and popular range for your next event, just give our friendly Customer Service team a call. We are available during normal business hours from Monday to Friday and you can reach us on: 01252 796 867

Everyone likes to receive a free gift when they go to trade shows, exhibitions and promotional events and choosing cheap promotional pens and gifts can be difficult. You obviously want to have as many pens as possible to go around and spread your brand and message and you want them to be kept and used. Today’s featured pen is perfect for all your promotional shows and events and it is novel, interesting and very useful not to mention offered at a great price too.

Key Shuttle Ball Pens are quite unique. These smart little personalised pens fit easily into pockets, bags and really small spaces. They are perfect for attaching to bags, belts and anywhere you need to keep a pen handy and come with a cord and handy clip ring attachment. They are available in 3 popular colour options, either: all white, black and white or blue and white and are supplied fitted with black ink refills as standard. The centres of the barrels simply slide in and out to reveal the nibs.

Our minimum order quantity is 250 printed pens so they are suitable for all events. Prices start from just 19p each and this great low price includes your logo and message printed in a single colour on the sliding centres.  Your print area is 43mm x 7mm and multi-colour printing is also offered in up to 3 spot colours for added impact. For a stunning effect, ask us about our full colour printing to one or both sides.

As they are so compact, they are perfect for mail-shots. Your customers and prospects will attach them to everything so they always have a pen handy.

If you have any questions, would like to see a sample or would like a no-obligation free quote, just call our helpful Customer Service team. We are waiting to talk to you and you can contact us on: 01252 796 867