October 2024 Blog: Engaging Toddlers in Story Time
It’s no secret that toddlers love to move, and sitting down to listen to a story can be a challenging task for their energized bodies. Instead of expecting children to be still, we can incorporate music and movement into our story times!
Movement Stories
There are lots of great books that lend themselves to interactive reading experiences. From Head to Toe by Eric Carle, I Went Walking by Sue Williams, and Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres are a few of my favorites to get children up and moving. Integrating movement gives children an active role in storytelling before they are yet able to verbally participate
Board Books
Board books are another exciting way for toddlers to engage with books. Because of the smaller size, the books are perfect for little hands to manipulate. The thick, cardboard pages are durable and built to withstand the rough exploration of a toddler. When it comes to choosing books, board books or otherwise, stick to short books with a few words or sentences per page and bright illustrations. Until children learn to read, they interact with books and the stories being told through the pictures. Colorful, vivid illustrations are more likely to keep their attention.
Oral Storytelling
Stories are not only told in books. Oral storytelling is another option to capture children’s attention. This can be songs, nursery rhymes, or even familial stories passed down from generations before. The Itsy Bitsy Spider and Five Green and Speckled Frogs are two of my favorite fingerplays to engage children. These catchy tunes are accompanied by simple gestures, giving children an outlet to move their bodies and improve their gross and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills refer to large muscles (arms, legs, torso) and fine motor skills refer to small muscles (hands, fingers, wrists).
Repetition
You may notice your toddler loves to hear the same songs or read the same books over and over, and although we adults may be ready to move onto something new, children love the repetition. For children, repetition provides a sense of comfort and predictability. It gives them ample opportunities to dive into that world and explore all it offers. They may want to hear a song or read a book multiple times, until they can recall the words, actions, or plot lines themselves.
Tips and Tricks
As a storyteller, you can employ different voices while reading. If that’s not your style, reading with enthusiasm is sure to capture children’s attention. If something sad happens, reflect that in your tone of voice. If the text is LARGE AND IN ALL CAPS, shout the dialogue! If the words are small, perhaps a whisper best conveys the message. Another way to keep toddlers engaged is by incorporating reading into routines. This can be especially helpful if you don’t know where to start and your child isn’t inclined to give their attention to a book. During meal times, bathtime, bedtime, or car rides are a few opportunities to incorporate literacy.
Check out the museum’s Books and Bops program to engage in interactive story time experiences designed specifically with infants and toddlers in mind!
—-Nicole Obrochta (she/her), Education Specialist II