Story time can become a restless activity with lots of distractions for little ones. So how do we make it more fun for them? We have you covered! After all, story time is our favorite part of the day! So here are some of our favorite story time tips to make it fun.
7 Fun Ways to Bring Story Time to Life
- Vote
- The book covers
- Captivate
- Think-Alouds
- Voices/Props
- Questions
- Integrate
Vote on the Kids’ Favorite Books
While your kids may already love story time, keeping them engaged from start to finish may feel like an impossible task. Try allowing the kids to vote on a favorite book! Each kid can choose their favorite book, and then they can vote on which one to read that day or week. Eventually, you will have read every kid’s favorite book in class!
This will teach the kids how to share the time with each other and avoid meltdowns if the favorite book they voted for wasn’t chosen. For kids new to the daycare, this will be a great way to help them adjust to a new place and make them feel welcome. This will give them a reason to look forward to story time and keep them engaged the whole time.
Talk About the Cover
Most people just read the title and move onto the pages in a book but talking about the book’s cover is a great way to bring attention to the story and engage the kids. Talk about the cover’s colors, what is happening, and what they think will happen throughout the story.
Captivate Your Kids
Start with a song or a way to get the wiggles out before having the kids sit down for the story. Allowing them to be silly for a few minutes and get out that energy will help them settle down and stay focused throughout story time.
Use a Think-Aloud
Keeping the kids engaged throughout the story is another challenge. A think-aloud allows you to ask them questions or say phrases including, “I wonder why…” or “He must feel…” and let the kids complete the phrase. This also helps your students comprehend the story you are reading and improve their critical thinking.
Use Voices or Props
If voices or props are your jam, story time is the perfect opportunity to use them. This keeps the kids engaged, entertained, and looking forward to the whole tale. You can also ask your class to participate in voices during certain words or parts of the story.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
When the story is over, your kids will want to ask questions. Use open-ended questions that start with “how” or “why” so the kids have an opportunity to answer them. If they struggle with the answer, remind them of where it was discussed and what was happening in the book.
Integrate it With Other Lessons Throughout the Day
The lesson doesn’t have to end when story time does. Plan activities throughout the day and encourage them to use the language they learned from the book as they participate. You can integrate different parts of what they learned throughout the routine for the day. Don’t forget to keep the story short and sweet! This prevents over-stimulation and keeps the kids engaged from start to finish.
Are you feeling more confident about story time this week? Utilize some of these tips to make it the most exciting part of the day. Choosing the kids’ favorite books will turn it into the ultimate learning experience while making it engaging, fun, and educational! Your kids will be excited to let their parents know about the book they read and everything they learned!