Three Simple Ways to Make Storytime More Engaging

February 5, 2016

Storytime doesn’t have to be limited to bedtime. Changing when, where and how you share books can make reading feel fresh, playful and exciting for both children and adults.

Here are three simple ways to bring new energy to storytime, encourage children’s imaginations and make reading together more enjoyable.

Mix Up When and Where You Read

Storytime often happens at bedtime, when books can help children feel calm, comfortable and ready for sleep. But sharing stories at other times of the day creates opportunities for a completely different kind of reading experience.

Try reading together on the sofa, at the kitchen table, outside on a picnic blanket or wherever feels inviting. When there is no need to keep things quiet, children can ask questions, act out scenes, make noises and explore ideas more freely. A simple change of time or place can make a familiar book feel exciting again.

Choose Books You Enjoy Too

Children quickly notice whether the person reading is genuinely enjoying a story. Choosing books that make you laugh, surprise you or capture your imagination will naturally bring more warmth and enthusiasm to the way you read them aloud.

Repetition helps children understand language and recognise how stories are structured, so favourite books still have an important place. However, introducing something new from time to time keeps storytime interesting for everyone. Look for different illustration styles, unusual characters and subjects that spark conversation as well as stories you will both be happy to revisit.

Explore Wordless Books and Invent Your Own Stories

A book does not need words to tell a wonderful story. Wordless picture books invite children to study the illustrations, notice small details and decide for themselves what might be happening. Because there is no single script to follow, every reading can become a different adventure.

You can also create a story without a book. Begin with a character, a place or a simple opening line, then take turns deciding what happens next. Ask open questions about what the characters might do, think or feel, and allow the story to travel in unexpected directions.

Children may begin by contributing a single word or short suggestion, but with encouragement they can soon develop characters, describe scenes and invent whole sections of the tale. It is a playful way to build confidence, language and imagination.

Small changes can make storytime feel fresh again. Try a different setting, choose a book that excites you too or put the words aside and invent an adventure together.