Tips for Making Story Time Come Alive
Story time is a special time to inspire imagination and plant the seeds for a young child’s interest in reading books. You help children build vocabulary, develop listening skills, increase attention span and teach new concepts and skills. Most important its a time for FUN! Some tips to make your story times come alive.
1. Set the Scene - Arrange a special setting; colorful carpet, sit outside, arrange cushions for the children to sit on in a quiet place.
2. Get in Character - Have fun by wearing a costume, bring puppets or use special props to highlight the story.
3. Act in Out - Give each character a different voice. If the children know the plot and words to the story, allow them to act it out as they remember it.
4. Recap the Story - Ask the children “what if” questions by extending the story’s ending. Follow through on each character and ask the children “What do you think? What would happen if the characters acted differently?” “Can you make up a different ending to the story?”
5. Reread the Story - Read the story a second time and have the children fill in the blanks or finish the sentence.
6. Personalize it - Insert names of children in the story, change names of towns and characters to familiar settings, and allow children to become involved in the story. Discuss how the characters feel so the children can share the characters’ emotions.
7. Involve Everyone - Try to involve all of the children in the story time, but do not force them to participate. Being “actively involved” to some children is watching, listening and sensing. Encourage shy children to join in when they are comfortable and ready.
8. Tell “Once Upon a Time” Stories - These stories can be adapted from reality or made up using a favorite character.
9. Imagine the Possibilities - Using the imagination is very stimulating for young children. Closing the eyes creates excitement and allows the imagination to expand. Introduce the story by saying, “I see a,” then set the scenery or give a description such as, “I see a red brick house with no windows,,,,Detail the story with action words.
10. Stories Can be Relaxing - Use time for bed or lullaby books to help children relax at naptime. The end of the book you can say things llike “Amy, Branden and Kayli lay on their cots, closed their eyes and drifted on to dreamland.”
