What are your memories of reading as a kid? For me, a trip to the library was right up there with a trip to the zoo, in the excitement stakes. Equally, I loved to go into bookshops with my mum and dad, immediately seeking out the kids’ section and immersing myself in a corner with a new read.

My four year old is proving to be just as much of a bookworm as her mum. She enjoys trips to the library and gets a huge kick out of new books. We read at least two stories at bedtime every night and, since starting school, Frog has begun to read her own stories as she starts to make the connection between the squiggles on the page and the words in her head.

As a parent, it’s incredibly exciting to see that passion for books grow in my child – and it’s something I hope Frog’s baby sister will share as she grows up. Over the past year Frog has started to enjoy word games, playing “I Spy” in the car and spotting letters and simple words on signs when we’re out and about.

The Letterfall UK Championship – How YOU can win £500!

Scottish Friendly knows the importance of encouraging literacy in children and, for the past 15 years, has sponsored the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour. Together with the Scottish Book Trust they’ve brought kids face to face with some of their favourite authors, by bringing a selection of the world’s top children’s authors into schools and libraries across the UK.

But this year they’ve gone one step further. If you’re a Scrabble fan or a secret Countdown addict, then listen up – this one’s for you. It might not be as famous, but The Letterfall UK Championship is your chance to shine, and win £500 in the process. Interested? Then read on…

What is Letterfall?

Letterfall is a fun word game that you can play online, taking on competitors from across the UK. Think of it as like Scrabble, but with actual money (and no family arguments) at the end.

The idea is to try to get the highest score in your nation’s leaderboard. The top player from each country by 12pm on Monday 3^rd November 2014 will win £100 each. After that, they’ll be put forward for the grand final in Glasgow on 28^th November 2014, where they’ll compete to win £500. That kind of cash could come in very handy before Christmas, no?

What’s the point?

The point for you is that it’s a bit of fun and you might even give your brain a workout in the process. Oh, and there’s a possible £500 in it too. The point for Scottish Friendly is that this is another way to promote literacy and share a passion for words. It’s a win, win situation really.

So how about it then?

Go straight to the website to have a go. And don’t forget to come back and let me know how you got on!

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UPDATE: 

The winner Nichola Leaver, age 20, has been named the country’s leading wordsmith after winning a national online word competition.

Thecompetition saw hundreds of people from all over the country compete at playing the popular online, Scrabble®-inspired word game, Letterfall.

The competition ran over two months with Nicola, from Wrexham and studying in Chester, winning the regional championship for Wales. In the UK Final she finished the tournament in top spot having used words such as ‘quivered’, ‘cuticles’ and ‘flounder’ to arrive at an impressive score of 62,414 – more than 13,000 points clear of her nearest rival.

Nicola said, “I’ve always loved word games but to be honest, I never thought I was going to win. Letterfall is an easy game to play, but when the pressure is on, especially when you are closing in on the top score, it did get a little nerve-racking.”

Some stats for you from the championship: 

• England played 865 games with 121 contestants.
• Scotland played 306 games with 121 contestants.
• Wales played 140 games with 17 contestants.
• Northern Ireland played 258 games with 11 contestants.

Words in the final: 

• Brambling: 190 points
• Horseplay: 180 points
• Hogshead: 128 points
• Exculpate: 207 points
• Sawhorses: 135 points
• Airpower: 104 points
• Jimmied: 119 points

 

Disclosure: Written in association with Scottish Friendly.