Story read-aloud is a fun and effective educational activity that you can include in your child’s daily routine. As the name suggests, it is simply reading aloud a story from the text of a picture book. This helps him develop a love for reading, learn good values, improve his listening skills, boost his imagination and creativity and be more accepting of others. Indeed, story read-aloud has a lot of benefits to your child.
Knowing the benefits of this experience, you are now ready to start the habit of reading aloud to your child. Or you may have already started. You bought a lot of story books with cute illustrations. And you also have some props on hand. It is now time to read them to your child. But how do you do it? How do you catch his attention?
Top 5 Story Read-Aloud Tips To Capture Your Child’s Attention
Here are the top five tips that you can apply so you can have a successful story read-aloud with your child:
1. Short and Sweet
If it is your first time to do read-aloud with your child, it is advisable to choose a short story. A ten-paged storybook (or even less) would hit the spot. Remember, your child is just starting to love read-alouds. Expect a lot of squirming and wiggling. So keep it short.
2. Keep It Comfy
Find a comfortable corner where your child won’t be easily distracted. The place should create the perfect ambiance for read-aloud. No blaring T.V. on the background or even pets running around. Your child gets distracted easily. That is a fact of life. So make sure you stay away from distractions for just a couple of minutes.
3. Give It Your Best Shot
Use movements. Do dramatic pauses. Change your voice with different characters. Display different facial expressions. Use props. Give it everything you’ve got! Just think of story read-aloud as your stand-up show. Your child is your only audience and the spotlight is on you. It’s your time to shine!
4. Involve Your Child
Audience participation is always part of a successful show. And in your story read-aloud, you only have one V.I.P. audience your child. So keep in mind to engage him as you read to him. Ask him questions about the story. Let him point to the pictures. Invite him to do the movements with you. Give him some simple lines to say. Make the sound effects together. Hand him the props. Remember: Audience participation is key.
5. Again and Again
Expect to read the same books again and again. After a couple of story read-alouds, your child will surely pick a favorite story. So be prepared to deliver the same story over and over again. But never lose the enthusiasm. Read the story with the same gusto, as if you’re a reading it for the first time.
Bonus Tip: Have fun!
Story read-aloud should be a fun experience for you and your child. This simple activity that you do with him even for just a couple of minutes everyday could possibly and inevitably lead to love of learning and reading in the future. And that is our long-term goal. So have fun!
Please do share with me your favorite story books that you read to your child.
I would also love to hear how you keep your child engaged as you do read-alouds.
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28 Responses
these are all wonderful tips for parents and how great reading is for kids.
Thank you! I really believe that to make the story come alive and to engage the children, we adults must di some actions
These are the best tips for parents on reading story. Use of movements and dramatic actions will raise kids. That’s very important.
Wow these are some great tips for me to get my kiddo to read some books with us… she is way too young to understand but yes I would definitely try it 😊👍🏼
I really hope your child enjoys it. Storytelling has a lot of benefits for children. 😊
I agree, reading to your child is so important. We have read to our girls since they were a few days old. Such a special time 🙂
True! It’s also a great bonding time for the family. 😊
These are some great tips! I will be sure to share them with my sister in law 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Cris! 😊
I would do this more often. Because I noticed that when I do, they really pay attention. They even ask questions.
That’s fantastic! I’m glad your children are really engaged during storytelling. 😁
I love these tips as it helps encourage people to read to their kids. Reading at a young age is so important.
That is so true. The love of learning and reading should start at a very young age. And hopefully they get to sustain it for life. 😊
I don’t have children but I think this could be great advice for blogging too. Keeping things short and sweet are so important.
Definitely! Short and sweet does the trick.
These are such great tips! My son seems to love story time but gets distracted easily, I’ll have to try this out!
We can totally relate. 😁 That’s why we’ve become entertainers to keep my nephew focused on the story. It’s definitely worth the effort seeing him laugh and interact with the story.
I love this! I always read to my kids and they loved it. Books are the best!
That’s great! I’m glad your children get to enjoy storytelling with you. 😊
These tips and tricks are amazing. I’d definitely need these for my niece
I hope it helps. I really encourage adults to do story read aloud to children. 😊
I love this so much. I am a reading specialist and know how important it is to read with your children. Anything to capture their attention and keep them interested is great!
I don’t have children but I do remember when my grandparents used to read to me when I was a child. I really enjoyed the stories and I even remember some of them now.
Awwww… That’s so sweet. 😊
These tips seem great! Thanks a lot! X
Thank you, Kiana! 😁
Such a good tips
Ms Nessy, is this your new blog??
Yes, Ms. Freely. 🙂 I’m so happy you dropped by. You can apply these tips as you teach your cute students in the sunny island of Bali.
Happy reading!