If you have ever interacted with a toddler or preschooler, you have probably wondered on more than one occasion – How on earth do I get him to pay attention when I read to him? What can I do to keep my kid interested for more than a couple of minutes?
I have been there many times, with my now 3 year old, who, by the way, is not one to stay put as we read, even now. Not on most occasions anyway.
But, I’ve followed some of the techniques that librarians and the story tellers in book stores use and have found them to work most of the time. As you may have noticed, they don’t simply stop at reading. They get the kids to participate and interact by incorporating other elements.
It’s important to combine reading aloud with a range of other activities such as singing action songs, recollecting stories, making up stories, pretend play and other interactive techniques. When reading to baby, remember to mix it up a little with a variety of books and activities to keep boredom at bay. Even with babies who appear not to be interested in books or reading, you can perk their interest when you switch to a different, but related activity or finger play that engages them in the process.
The librarian in this video alternates reading aloud with popular songs, nursery rhymes and stories such as this one that complement the reading process.
Note how she chooses a story that engages the children with elements they find enjoyable or interesting and are familiar with – colors, numbers, rhyming words and disappearing dogs!
Do you have a favorite activity you try when reading to baby?
Thanks for posting these videos! I like to mix it up a lot because while some children can sit still for long periods of time, many have very little attention spans. That, mixed with lots of energy can make storytime challenging! By using puppets, fingerplays, flannelboard stories, etc. it helps break up storytime and I think helps bring the stories and concepts to life.
@Nancy- I know! Low attention spans + high energy levels is not an easy combination to handle. But you do a good job. Every time we return from a story time session, M has her own session at home where I have to be the kid and M pretty much imitates everything you do…including the tone variations while reading a book. Some stamp of approval eh? Just goes to show that these sessions have a deeper impact on a child’s mind than we might expect.
Oh, that’s so cute! And great to hear, thanks!!