One of the most common ways for parents to spend time with their children is to read a bedtime story.
At the end of a busy day, many little ones love cuddling in with their mum or dad to share a book together. It’s a fantastic way to wind down and to enjoy each other’s company.
Storytime doesn’t always have to be the last activity of the day though. For some families, it works better at a different time.
In our household, my toddler loves to start the day with a story (or five!). For him, it’s his way of getting a top-up of attention before the business of the day begins. It’s not always possible, but when it is, I find that his behaviour that morning is much better than on days when it can’t be managed.
During Lockdown, reading stories became a staple activity for us. I was heavily pregnant and didn’t have the energy to pull together materials for craft or messy activities. And the thought of cleaning up afterwards left me cold.
So the simplicity of reaching for a book and curling up with my toddler on the couch was an attractive option. We sometimes got through 15 books a day!
For every family, the when and where of how you read stories together will be slightly different. And every family will have challenges facing them when it comes to making it work. But I’ve tried to include some general ideas here that might help you to keep story times interesting, fresh and of course memorable!
The majority of this post refers to storytimes involving reading picture books to younger children. However, you will find sections near the end that give advice for involving the whole family, and not leaving older children out of the fun.
Relax
As parents, we often feel that we have to do everything perfectly.
When it comes to sharing stories with our children, we might worry that we stumble over words when we read aloud. Or that we find it really hard to do funny voices, and feel embarrassed.
Don’t get worked up about these things!
All your child really wants is to be close to you, sharing an experience together. They aren’t holding us to an Oscar-winning standard!
Let Them Choose
Often my heart sinks at the thought of letting my little boy decide what story he wants to read.
It’s just typical that on the day I have a sore throat, he reaches for the longest book on the shelf.
Also, some stories trigger him to think of others. For example, if we read The Gruffalo, I can be pretty sure that as soon as we finish the last page he will want to move on to The Gruffalo’s Child.
Children thrive on choice however, and are much more motivated to engage with books when they are in control of the reading material.
A solution I find keeps everyone happy, is for me to select a few books for us to read.
Usually I choose these based on the length of story I can cope with at that time! But often I choose a selection based on a topic as well. When we were potty training, I made sure to add a potty book to each day’s pile. I need to start adding ones in about starting preschool now too.
I then give my little boy the choice of the order he wants to read them in. This helps to limit the session as well. He knows that once we have worked through those books in the order of his choice, the storytime is over.
Another fun way to choose is to have a Lucky Dip. Simply put a few books in a box, pop a cover over, and get your child to choose with his or her eyes closed.
Use the Library
At the rate that children go through books, buying enough to provide variety can be an expensive business.
That’s where the library can be your best friend. A constant supply of new books is available to you free of charge.
I find it works really well to mix up the books we read. I try to include some of his own firm favourites, and some borrowed titles from the library.
Until recently, a trip to the library was something we looked forward to on my husband’s day off; we would all go in together and choose our books. Often, one of us would read our son a story at the cosy space in the children’s section.
At the moment, Covid-19 restrictions mean that only a Call and Collect service is available. In general, books need to be pre-ordered online or over the phone.
Although this does take away from the experience, it’s fantastic that the facilities are still there. Especially since I find we need them more than ever right now.
Make sure to thoroughly investigate the full range of services your library can offer you and your child.
For example, until recently, I had failed to realise that I could order in books from any other library in the country. I can also get free online access to a wide range of magazines and courses.
Depending on where you live, the services will be different. But take the time to research and to make the most of the ones that are most useful to you.
Many libraries hold storytimes for toddlers and young children during the week. Currently, most of these are taking place online, but find out what’s happening near you. It can be a treat to have someone different reading the story.
Find a Special Place
For some reason, my little boy gets extra excited about storytime if we do it up on my and my husband’s bed. He loves to cuddle in under our duvet and get comfy.
Why not find or make a spot in the house that is the designated one for reading stories? It adds to the experience and makes the time special without even trying.
Here are a few ideas you might like to try:
- A beanbag
- A teepee
- A tent made from chairs/laundry rack/blankets etc.
- A special cushion and blanket on the couch
- A comfy chair
- Under the kitchen table
Try a Different Location
The saying “a change is as good as a holiday” is true of lots of situations. Although a special place for storytime is great, moving it somewhere different can add another layer of interest and excitement.
Campfires are often associated with storytelling. If you have an appropriate space, why not set up a small fire pit outside and take your books out there? Lots of fantastic memories are created whilst sitting around a fire.
Another idea is to read stories in a place that is similar to their setting. So, for example, you could take The Tale of Peter Rabbit to a vegetable patch. Or read Lost and Found beside a harbour.
Experiment with Props
It’s not a necessity, but if you have the time and energy, simple props can really add to young children’s appreciation of a story.
For some books, you can find online printables for stick and finger puppets of the characters. Even if these don’t exactly match a story you should easily be able find something that fits the theme or setting.
Some other ideas for physical items that enhance the story include:
- Playing character dress-up. For example you might try and find a hat to pretend to be Paddington Bear, or a scarf to dress up like Rupert Bear.
Try Some Follow-On Activities
If children are particularly fond of a particular book, why not provide some extra activities to keep the story alive for them after story time has ended?
For many popular stories, a quick online search will yield countless ideas such as colouring sheets, puzzles, crafts etc.
There are lots of things you can do however, without a single bit of research.
You and your child could
- draw pictures of your favourite part of the story;
- act out the story (in person, or using toys as props);
- make up silly songs about the story;
- talk about things the story reminds them of (feelings about something, a place you visited etc.);
- retell the story to another family member.
Involve All The Family
Often, story time involves just one parent/guardian and one or more children.
However, it’s a great idea to occasionally include the whole family.
Take it in turns to choose books or stories at a level that can be enjoyed by all. Although this will be harder if you have a broad age range in your family (for example toddler to teen), it is possible if you think creatively.
Here are some ideas for making it work:
- Parents/guardians and older siblings could share their favourite books from when they were a certain age.
- Make up a story as a whole family. One person could start by saying a few sentences, before the next person takes a turn. Rory’s Story Cubes are great fun for storytelling. Or make your own story stones.
- Don’t be afraid to read from a book that is aimed at your older children, even if you have toddlers or preschoolers present. Once it is appropriate (not scary, no bad language etc.), you’d be surprised how happy they are to let it wash over them, even if they don’t understand. Perhaps you could let them draw pictures of things they hear mentioned as it is read aloud.
- Encourage everyone to choose a book from the bookshelf or library that they think another family member would enjoy. You could assign pairs a day or two in advance so that everyone has time to think. In a sense, it is like Kris Kindle for books.
- Use video call software such as Zoom or Skype to allow family members who live far away to join in. It would be very exciting for a young child to have Granny or Grandad read a story to them from afar.
Keep Reading With Your Older Children
In some cases, once children are able to read for themselves, parents feel that their days of reading aloud are over. However, older children still love the comfort and closeness of sharing a story.
In fact, it is only relatively recently that adults have stopped telling each other stories in ways that would have been natural and common for generations.
Why not sit down with your older child and select a book to read aloud together? It’s a fantastic way to continue to spend time together as they get older.
It doesn’t need to be every day if that doesn’t suit you, but a regular time to sit down and read a chapter together is a valuable thing to have in your diary. Your child might like to be read to, or they may take pride in reading to you.
As well as this, it provides a natural topic of conversation, not only at storytime itself, but also throughout the day.
If the book is new to both of you, you can share in the excitement of wondering what happens next. If it is a book you read yourself as a child, you have the chance to share some memories associated with it.
Children’s fiction often does a great job of dealing with real life issues. If you choose a book wisely, your storytime can provide the opportunity to discuss important topics facing your child.
Why not include a special treat in the storytime on occasion? A mug of hot chocolate together can make the experience seem much more grown up and interesting!
Special Storytimes
Storytime is a fantastic way to spend quality time with your children.
It’s well worth taking a little time when you can to make it happen and to make it fun. I hope at least one of the ideas I’ve mentioned will help you somewhat.
It really is a wonderful feeling to have a small person beside you, eager and excited for what you’re going to read to them.
What do your children like about storytime? How do you make it work in your home? Leave a comment and let us know!