Reading the same books over and over again is a rite of passage for the parents of young children. You may have a bedtime or naptime routine that involves story time, and you’ve probably yielded to several requests to read it “just one more time.” Fostering an early love for books is greatly essential to establishing early literacy skills. If your child needs a more interactive story time, or if you’re looking to shake up your routine, try a few of these ideas to make story time even more fun!
1. Make it rhyme. All the time.
Most of us know the unforgettable experience of having a song stuck in your head. There’s a reason we call some songs “earworms.” Once they wiggle into our consciousness, it can be difficult to shake them loose! The reason for this isn’t just a catchy melody—it’s rhyme. The language areas of our brain are especially attuned to correspondences between sounds. Finding books that rhyme will naturally engage your child during story time. The rhythm of the rhymed words will help your little one anticipate and predict the upcoming words. He or she may also notice that the letter shapes of rhymed words like “star” and “car” look similar. This realization can help support early literacy.
2. Write a sequel together.
The only thing better than Toy Story is Toy Story 2. The second narrative in a series can sometimes surpass the first, and there’s no reason why your child can’t write the next great children’s book! Have your little one write a sequel to a book that he or she already enjoys reading. With a few illustrations, some staples, and glue, you can even make it into a book to add to your library. This exercise can help foster creativity and divergent thinking.
3. Include some physical movement.
Concept acquisition research has taught us that pairing physical movements with abstract concepts can lead to greater information retention. The children’s nursery rhyme “Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man” makes great use of this technique, engaging little hands in mixing, rolling out imaginary dough, and placing it in the oven. You can use physical action to dramatize some of your child’s favorite books. Try books like Barnyard Dance! by Sandra Boynton or Head to Toe by Eric Carle. Both books encourage kids to act out physical movements like stomping, twirling, jumping, or running. A physically interactive story time will also engage kids who may not like to sit still…but love to move!
4. Add some music to your reading time.
Books that are also songs are an amazing way to keep and hold a child’s attention. Start with classics like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or Old MacDonald, and then throw in some Bob Marley or Ringo Starr. Some children’s books come with their own songs or soundtrack that you can play while you read aloud. A preschool favorite is The Animal Boogie by Debbie Harter. Don’t be afraid to write your own tunes to books your kids love most. Having a refrain to sing together can make story time feel even more special.
5. Turn a favorite book into a performance.
Some kids are natural actors, and you can channel their dramatic skills into a feature presentation worthy of the theatre. Fun costumes from a thrift store (or even the back of your closet) can transform a humble play into a blockbuster production. Consider inviting neighborhood friends or family to attend the show.
Supporting Spectacular Story Times
The Gardner School makes early literacy a priority by promoting a love of books in every classroom. Our students listen to stories read out loud, page through books, and practice letter recognition to help build lifelong readers. Contact us today to learn more or check out our virtual tours on our website for The Gardner School nearest you. You’ll quickly see why parents choose The Gardner School for their children’s earliest introduction to education.