Story time for an active baby, toddler, preschooler or even elementary age child can be a challenge at times. With just a few reading tips you can still get your child benefitting from read aloud time. Their busy personalities have them constantly on the go, and it can be hard to get them to focus and sit still for a story. Check out these 5 tips for making story time fun, and see how you can update your reading routine!
Reading tips
Reading Tip 1: Read a new book
Reading a new story that they haven’t heard 100 times before will likely grab their attention. Little minds are constantly learning & absorbing new information! You may be surprised to know that regularly introducing new reading material is important to keep them interested, but also for expanding vocabulary, and knowledge. As their bodies grow, so do their minds, so a good rule of thumb is to update your home library with new books every time you upgrade their clothing wardrobe (or more often!) You could even subscribe to a book box to have fresh new books delivered to your door every month!
Reading Tip 2: Use Funny Voices
Your kids probably love all the characters they hear in cartoons, so why not channel your inner silly character voice?! Every person in your story can have a different funny tone or accent. Personally, I think my specialities are the trains in The Little Engine That Could and Raccoon on the Moon. My kids think its hilarious and often ask to read those books because they love to hear me act silly. This is a great way for making story time fun and creative by acting out the characters!
Reading Tip 3: Talk About the Pictures & Ask Questions
If they can’t sit still while you read a book, try these tactics to pull them back into your lap. “Wow! look at this!”, pointing out colors, objects, and what you see are helpful to help them regain their focus. As you’re reading, try asking questions as you go, such as “What do you think happens next?”, “What do you see?”, “Does she look happy or sad?” Asking questions helps them to process what they are hearing you read, and connect the dots to improve understanding and comprehension.
Reading Tip 4: Read Interactive Books
There are some books that draw kids in with interactive pieces. The more involved you can get a child in a book, the more they will enjoy reading! Book with textures, flaps, and interactive elements make kids actively engage in reading materials. Older kids love books with internet references and links to connect technology and reading. One of my favorite parts of being a UBAM book lady is seeing all the incredibly awesome fun and interactive styles we have that make kids get excited about reading! We love to take it up a notch and pair fun crafts & activities with our books to make it a really fun experience! A few of our favorites are our flower & construction sensory bins, and our holiday crafts like our thanksgiving turkeys and patriotic noisemakers!
Reading Tip 5: Find Books That Match Their Interest
If you have a kid that loves rocket ships, stock up on space and rocket books! If you have an animal lover, include books with info and pictures on their favorites and some new ones. Kids are more likely to be involved in & enjoy story time if it’s in a topic that they love! Story time doesn’t have to be fiction, you can include fact-based, non fiction as a party of your regular read aloud time.
Whatever you do, make story time a priority. It might be first thing in the morning, while you eat breakfast, before nap time or bed time or even during potty training! Find a time that works for your family, but don’t skip out, and have fun with it! If you need some new books to stock your shelves, you can contact me to learn how you can get them all for free! Comment below with any reading tips you think I should add to the list!
Happy Reading!
[…] with your preschooler or toddler. Interactive books like this one are actually my number 4 tip on making story time fun! Books with moving parts and interactive pieces can even help the wildest kids sit still for story […]