Storytime: Where Dreams are Born

“Come with me, where dreams are born and time is never planned.”
—Peter Pan

Doesn’t that sound marvelous? UNPLANNED time? And as parents, we have the ability to, ahem, SCHEDULE unplanned time for our kids—and right now, we have quite a bit of unplanned time dropped in our laps! One of my favorite activities for unplanned time together is reading out loud together.

Books are like the Tardis--bigger on the inside!

Above is my read aloud pile of books for the spring. While we haven’t yet read all of these in their entirety together, we have read some of them in their entirety and we read excerpts from almost all of them. My kids have enjoyed all of these, and more. Other favorites, not pictured, are The Book of Virtues and Stuart Little, which I highly recommend for those just starting reading aloud to kiddos.

Grandpa reading to a wiggly Valor

Reading books that aren't 99% pictures will be a transition for your kids. Engaging with their imaginations instead of depending on illustrations to translate the material takes some practice, so don't be afraid to take it REALLY SLOWLY. In my family, we’re talking about a little girl who never stops talking, and two little boys who never stop moving or making noise, and all of them never stop eating. If my kids can learn to enjoy books, yours can too! My four tips for read-aloud success below:

1. Don't Bite Off More Than You Can Chew. Don't expect a toddler to sit quietly and listen to chapters without interruption or question. There will be questions. Take it slowly and expect, nay, encourage questions and interaction. That's how they learn!
2. Location, Location, Location. My kids like to lay out on the trampoline while I read to them. Times and places we've read include: -Playing in the sandbox -Lounging on the couch -Laying on the floor in front of the fireplace -Perched on a rock by a stream -Picnicking -Eating at the breakfast table -Waiting in the car -All snuggled in one bed together -During a "literary tea party" -Hundreds of other places! There are unique challenges for each place (you WILL get kicked/stepped on) and the situation itself may call for prep, but as for the reading, just grab a book and read! (Protip: BRING SNACKS.)
3. Choose Books Worth Reading. I would argue that all books are not created equal. Some are fluff, some are substantive. IT's not that you shouldn't read fluff, just don't ONLY read fluff. Give yourself and your kids some variety. It's like a healthy diet--pizza and soda are delicious, but you shouldn't exclusively live on them. You have to develop a taste and appreciation for healthy nourishment and hydration. You can approach books with the same perspective. Especially if reading out loud is special to your kids, it's the perfect place to bring in a book they might not choose on their own!
4. Get Into The Story. Don't be afraid to use goofy voices, sing the songs, and make the story your own! I know of one family where the kids speak very fondly of their dad's particular "Piglet" voice (Winnie-the-Pooh), and I can still sing the "Me Just A Worthless Coyote" song like my mom did (Hank the Cowdog). You are creating memories, here! Have fun with it--but remember, this is your family, not an episode of Lux Radio Theatre. You don't have to stress about it--if it isn't your thing to do voices, you don't have to!

Bedtime stories with Daddy.

So those are my suggestions, but really--reading aloud can happen anywhere, and in a million amazing ways. Anyone else have some awesome tips for storytime success? Happy reading!