"If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." --Albert Einstein
15 Tricks For Squeezing The Most Out Of Story Time
"We’ve all heard about the importance of reading to our tots for that magical 20 minutes a day. But how can we be sure that time is filled with love, laughter, and learning?
These 15 tricks will help you make the most out of this precious time with your child.
1. It’s not always rude to point.
As you read to your babe, point to pictures and discuss the story in your own words. Drawing your little one’s attention to features on each page will prolong their interests and broaden their understanding.
2. Go beyond the written word.
Describe the pictures in as much detail as your babe will allow. If your child is smitten with a particular page, spend a few extra moments describing its details. If your tot starts to get antsy, re-direct your excitement to the next page.
3. Hone your acting skills.
Narrate with silly voices to entice a little laughter! Every time I read The Little Engine That Could, I give the Shiny New Engine an uppity French accent and the Big Strong Engine an arrogant Italian accent. I’m sure they both sound identically Texan, but it makes the book so much more enjoyable!"
Read on for more tips on how to make story time special.
These 15 tricks will help you make the most out of this precious time with your child.
1. It’s not always rude to point.
As you read to your babe, point to pictures and discuss the story in your own words. Drawing your little one’s attention to features on each page will prolong their interests and broaden their understanding.
2. Go beyond the written word.
Describe the pictures in as much detail as your babe will allow. If your child is smitten with a particular page, spend a few extra moments describing its details. If your tot starts to get antsy, re-direct your excitement to the next page.
3. Hone your acting skills.
Narrate with silly voices to entice a little laughter! Every time I read The Little Engine That Could, I give the Shiny New Engine an uppity French accent and the Big Strong Engine an arrogant Italian accent. I’m sure they both sound identically Texan, but it makes the book so much more enjoyable!"
Read on for more tips on how to make story time special.
Reading Corner
Title: The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud
By: Janet Schulman
Ages: 5 and up
"Unparalleled in scope and quality and designed for reading aloud and sharing, this splendid anthology brings together some of the most memorable and beloved children's books of our time. Here are classics such as Madeline and Curious George; contemporary bestsellers such as Guess How Much I Love You and The Stinky Cheese Man; Caldecott Medal winners such as Make Way for Ducklings and Where the Wild Things Are; and family favorites such as Goodnight Moon, The Sneetches, Winnie-the-Pooh, and Alexander & The Terrible, No Good Very Bad Day, soon to be a motion picture.
The selections range from concept books and wordless books to picture books and short read-aloud stories, and represent the complete array of childhood themes and reading needs[...] As a gift, a keepsake, and a companion in a child's first steps toward a lifelong love of reading, The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury belongs in every family's bookcase. -Publisher
By: Janet Schulman
Ages: 5 and up
"Unparalleled in scope and quality and designed for reading aloud and sharing, this splendid anthology brings together some of the most memorable and beloved children's books of our time. Here are classics such as Madeline and Curious George; contemporary bestsellers such as Guess How Much I Love You and The Stinky Cheese Man; Caldecott Medal winners such as Make Way for Ducklings and Where the Wild Things Are; and family favorites such as Goodnight Moon, The Sneetches, Winnie-the-Pooh, and Alexander & The Terrible, No Good Very Bad Day, soon to be a motion picture.
The selections range from concept books and wordless books to picture books and short read-aloud stories, and represent the complete array of childhood themes and reading needs[...] As a gift, a keepsake, and a companion in a child's first steps toward a lifelong love of reading, The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury belongs in every family's bookcase. -Publisher
Recommended by Cubs Editors
Be the Change
Read with your child and make this a special time to connect for the two of you! Here's a fun printable reading scavenger map you can gift to your children this summer to inspire their love of reading!
