Have you ever seen a truly great storyteller in action? Professional storytellers (and even some masterful amateurs) can act out stories and play any part just by changing their voices and bodies in attention-grabbing, dramatic and funny ways. And kids love it!
Lucky for you, you don’t have to be a brilliant storyteller to hold your child’s attention when you read together. But there are techniques you can use to captivate his attention that even the shyest parent can do successfully. Once you check out these tips from our experts, you’ll be ready to tackle any book on your shelf and read aloud like a pro.
Choose a few books that feature one character and give that character a special voice.
Make mistakes during re-readings of a favorite story on purpose and see what your toddler says.
Start reading aloud to your baby.
It’s normal to feel awkward about reading aloud, even to the least demanding of audiences. But your newborn is happiest in your arms, close to the person she loves best. Let her get used to the tone and rhythm of your voice as you read to her, and by the time your baby is really listening to the stories you tell, you’ll be telling them with ease.
Don’t worry about making mistakes.
Is it BA-bar, or ba-BAR? It doesn’t really matter. Even if you mispronounce a character's name every single time, your baby’s still going to think that it’s the perfect way to read. And if another grownup in the room makes you feel uncomfortable reading aloud, just send them somewhere else until you’re finished.
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