Don’t Be Yourself When Reading to Kids

Really. Don’t. Unless you’re a trained actor or performer.

Otherwise, loosen up… have fun, be silly, be a kid again!

Best tip: Children won’t judge how well you do. They’ll just appreciate you reading to them and making it enjoyable. Make it fun!

Ok. That said…take a moment, breathe deeply and think kids, the only audience you’ll have.

Here you go!

Read books that you enjoy.
Use different voices for different characters. Make funny faces. Make serious faces.
Change the tone and inflection of your voice, as you read.
Talk loudly sometimes, softly other times – depending on what’s happening in the story.
Read more quickly, if the story line is getting tense or there’s a lot of activity…like you can’t wait to see what happens next.
Hold the book so the child or children can all see the illustrations. Stop and talk (even briefly) about the pictures. If there are no illustrations or only a few, ask the child or children what they think the part of the story would look or sound like.
If the book has sentences that are repeated throughout the story, prompt the kids to say that part of the story.  This works really well for rhyming text that often has repetitive words or lines. Or if one character keeps saying the same words throughout the book.
Ask what the child thinks will happen next BEFORE you turn the page.

Extend the story time by asking questions that will spur discussion about the book, as well as the fun of the book. Try these:

What was your favorite part of the story?
Do you want to act out that part of the story?
What character did you like best? What did you like about him/her/it?
Would you change the ending? If yes, how would you change it?
Which character is most like you?
Which character is most like me?

This is your chance to help encourage a child’s love for reading and books.

An opportunity to make your time together memorable.

And a return, albeit brief, to the fun and freedom of childhood!