# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Daytime Emmy-nominated, Storyline Online, features celebrated actors reading children's books to inspire a love of reading in millions of children worldwide.

# data[].attributes.headline
Literacy Resources for Families-Virginia Department of Education

# data[].attributes.subject
Literacy Resources for Families-Virginia Department of Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Literacy Resources for Families and Communities | Virginia Department of Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Teaching, Learning & Assessment » K-12 Standards & Instruction » English, Reading, & Literacy » Literacy

# data[].attributes.headline
Secrets for Making Children Want to Read

# data[].attributes.subject
Secrets for Making Children Want to Read

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Common Sense Media editors help you choose Reading Apps, Games, and Websites. Engaging resources that offer kids more than ABCs.

# data[].attributes.headline
Learning to Read and Instructional Strategies

# data[].attributes.subject
Learning to Read and Instructional Strategies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Learning to Read and Instructional Strategies

# data[].attributes.body
Contact your school librarian directly for specific recommendations and access to online subscriptions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Fairfax County Public Schools provides access to a large number of print and digital products for all of our students, PreK-12 and their families, to support research, learning, and recreational reading.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Fairfax County Public Schools provides access to a large number of print and digital products for all of our students, PreK-12 and their families, to support research, learning, and recreational reading.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Six tips to help you connect, bond, and escape into great stories with your family by getting into the habit of family reading.

# data[].attributes.headline
Simple Things Families Can Do to Help Their Child Become a Reader

# data[].attributes.subject
Simple Things Families Can Do to Help Their Child Become a Reader

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Simple Things Families Can Do to Help Their Child Become a Reader

# data[].attributes.headline
Children's Literature and Social Emotional Learning

# data[].attributes.subject
Children's Literature and Social Emotional Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Children’s Literature and Social Emotional Learning

# data[].attributes.headline
The Dr. Larry Bussey Family and Community Library

# data[].attributes.subject
The Dr. Larry Bussey Family and Community Library

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Dr. Larry Bussey Family and Community Library

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Dr. Larry Bussey Family Resource Center Library offers over 10,000 resources for parents, educators, and community members to borrow.,

# data[].attributes.headline
Browse the Family Resource Center Library Online

# data[].attributes.subject
Browse the Family Resource Center Library Online

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Help Young Children Learn to Love Reading

As children grow, so do the ways they can enjoy reading. Babies love cuddling, looking at pictures and hearing parents' voices. But toddlers have new skills that can help them enjoy book time even more. Here are some ways you can make the most of the time you spend reading with your child:

Choose a relaxed time to read together. Many parents read to their children at night. But if your child seems more excited about reading in the morning or afternoon, take advantage of his interest then.

Allow your child to choose which book you will read. If that's too difficult for him, pick out a few books and let him select one. Children love repetition, so don't worry if he chooses the same book day after day. You can read it again, or ask your spouse to take a turn.

Let your child read to you. Reverse roles and have him turn the pages and tell you the story.

Be creative. Consider using different voices for each character. Your child will enjoy it-and you might, too.

Take the time to answer your child's questions, even if they interrupt the story. And if your child wants to stop reading or skip a few pages, that's OK, too. Enjoying the time with your child is more important than reading the entire book.

Source: Diane Cole, "Raising a reader," Parents.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As children grow, so do the ways they can enjoy reading. Babies love cuddling, looking at pictures and hearing parents’ voices. But toddlers have new skills that can help them enjoy book time even more. Here are some ways you can make the most of the time you spend reading with your child:

# data[].attributes.body
A huge collection of audiobooks and ebooks, just for FCPS students. Log in with your FCPS Student ID information and have fun!

# data[].attributes.headline
How to check out ebooks from the Family Resource Center

# data[].attributes.subject
How to check out ebooks from the Family Resource Center

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to check out ebooks from the Parent Resource Center

# data[].attributes.headline
Equitable Access to Literacy Plan Overview for Secondary Families

# data[].attributes.subject
Equitable Access to Literacy Plan Overview for Secondary Families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Equitable Access to Literacy Plan Overview for Secondary Families

# data[].attributes.headline
Equitable Access to Literacy Plan Overview for Elementary Families

# data[].attributes.subject
Equitable Access to Literacy Plan Overview for Elementary Families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Equitable Access to Literacy Plan Overview for Elementary Families

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
United States - Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library first launched in 1995 in Dolly’s home county in East Tennessee and today mails over 2 million free books each month!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Fairfax County, Virginia - Department Homepage

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Early literacy is what children know about communication, language - verbal and non-verbal - reading and writing before they can actually read and write. Research shows that children get ready to read years before they start school. Help children learn important skills now so they can become good readers later.

Parents and caregivers play an important role in getting young children ready to read. Why?

You are children's first role models, and they look up to you.

You know these children best.

You can help children learn reading skills in ways that are easiest for them.

Children learn best by doing things, and they love doing things with you.

Take every opportunity to read, play, sing, talk and write with your children. These simple practices will help get children ready to learn.

In this guide you will find:

Online resources related to early literacy.

Recommended reading for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

Recommended early literacy activities.

Online resources for educators, parents and young children.

This guide is intended for:

Parents and caregivers of babies, toddlers and preschoolers who want to discover age appropriate books, activities and events for young children.

Early childhood educators who are looking for books, activities and resources for their classrooms.

Anyone who enjoys picture books.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
FCPL Curated Content: Early Literacy: An Overview of Early Literacy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Early literacy is what children know about communication, language-verbal and non-verbal-reading and writing before they can actually read and write.

# data[].attributes.body
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0285/1759/7236/files/2121_C2022_Sample.pdf?v=1653071175

# data[].attributes.body
Tips for Parents: Choosing Books for Infants and Toddlers | ECLKC (hhs.gov)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Reading is an important skill for future learning. Here are some tips for choosing good books for infants and toddlers. Parents, caregivers, and guardians may find these tips helpful.

The following tips sheet is provided courtesy of the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL).
Infants: Birth to 6 Months

Content. Choose books with large pictures or bright and bold illustrations set against a contrasting background. Look for books that have simple pictures, one per page.

Language. Infants will enjoy looking through wordless picture books, or books that have just a single word along with a big picture. But also try books that contain phrases or short sentences. It's important for infants to hear language. Nursery rhymes and verse books are good for this age, too.

Design. Books for infants should be interesting and appealing to look at. Try stiff cardboard books, books with fold-out pages that create colorful panels, cloth or soft vinyl books, and books with handles.

Reading Aloud. Infants want your full attention, so try reciting rhymes and songs that you remember by heart. Also, try reading to your infant while she has a toy to hold. Reading at bedtime is always a nice way to end the day!

Infants: 7 to 12 Months

Content. Children this age will enjoy books with medium to large photos and bright, bold illustrations. Look for books that have simple drawings of familiar things, actions, and events.

Language. Children begin to key into content and can relate pictures to their world. While they still enjoy picture books, try some books with simple stories that have one line of text per page.

Design. Infants this age like to handle cloth and vinyl books, and cardboard books with stiff, thick pages.

Reading Aloud. As your baby gets older, try this four-part interaction sequence:

1. Get your baby's attention by pointing out something in a book. ("Look!")

2. Ask a labeling question. ("What's that?")

3. Wait for your baby to respond, verbally or non-verbally. If necessary, provide the answer yourself. ("That's a monkey!")

4. Acknowledge your baby's response. ("Yes" or repeat your baby's word.) If your baby mislabels the picture, correct him in a positive manner. ("Yes, it's brown like a dog, but it's a monkey.")

Keep in mind that you may not get through a whole book in one reading. As your child starts to explore books, support her progress by watching, listening, and acknowledging.
Infants: 12 to 18 months

Content. For children this age, try books with pictures of familiar characters, like animals, children, TV characters, or adults in familiar roles. Look for books that have action pictures - your baby is starting to be able to enjoy pictures with more details.

Language. This is a great age to try books with songs and repetitive verses. Books that have a simple story line that relates to your child's own experiences will also have appeal. You might also look for theme books that show a series of related pictures and a few words. These books follow a progression of simple activities, but don't try to introduce a plot or complex storyline.

Design. Even though your baby is growing fast, she'll still enjoy playing with books with handles and books with stiff, thick pages. And she'll still like having these books read to her. Books with thinner pages that are plastic-coated are also a good choice for this age.

Reading Aloud. Your infant will probably still enjoy reading with you as he sits on your lap or close to you in a comfortable chair. This helps your baby associate reading with feeling secure. Connecting sounds with the pictures he sees in the books will make reading together even more fun. Make your own sounds, and don't be surprised if your baby joins in! You may also notice your child looking through the book alone and making noises (sometimes called "book babble").

Toddlers: 19 to 30 Months

Content. Toddlers will continue to enjoy books with familiar characters, but they also will begin to take interest in pictures filled with information, action, and detail. Try some short stories, cause and effect stories, and fictional books that describe a problem or circumstance to overcome.

Language. Try predictable books with repeated text, words that rhyme, and pictures that correspond to the text. Books with songs and repetitive verses are still a good choice for this age.

Design. Toddlers can enjoy books with paper pages-but will still like books with a picture on every page and just a little bit of text.

Reading Aloud. Let your toddler decide if she wants to sit on your lap while you read, or next to you on the couch or floor. Follow her cues. Talk about the characters and events in the story, relating them to your child's own experiences. Pause when you read aloud to let your child fill in a word or phrase. This works great with rhyming and repetitive books.

Written by the National Center for Family Literacy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tips for Parents: Choosing Books for Infants and Toddlers | ECLKC

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Reading is an important skill for future learning. Here are some tips for choosing good books for infants and toddlers. Parents, caregivers, and guardians may find these tips helpful. The following tips sheet is provided courtesy of the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL). Infants: Birth to 6 Months Content.

# data[].attributes.headline
Public Library Equity Pass for all students PreK-12

# data[].attributes.subject
Public Library Equity Pass for all students PreK-12

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What is LEAP?

All students (PreK-12) in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) have LEAP accounts at FCPL. These public library virtual accounts allow students to check out up to three items at a time for six weeks each (no renewals).

Why is LEAP awesome?

A student only needs their name, not a physical library card, to check out materials.

LEAP accounts never charge fines or fees.

A student can have a LEAP account as well as a standard library account (application online and in library branches). Standard accounts allow users to place holds on materials and access FCPL digital resources such as eBooks and databases.

How did LEAP happen?

LEAP began as a pilot in one school pyramid in 2019. FCPL and FCPS launched this program as a partnership to ensure that students would have access to library materials even if they don't have a traditional library card, or if that card has been blocked due to fines.

How can I find out more?

Ask a teacher or librarian at your school, or call or visit any FCPL location.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
FCPL Curated Content: Lifelong Education and Learning: Library Equity Access Pass (LEAP)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Lifelong education and learning opportunities made available through the Fairfax County Public Library Virtual Library accounts for FCPS students

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Shared storybook reading is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child. At its best, this one activity can promote strong parent-child attachment, nurture key early language and literacy skills, strengthen a child's pride in their cultural and personal identity, expand their knowledge of the world, and help them process strong emotions and deal with life's challenges.

Today's post gives you 16 practical shared reading tips, adapted from some new and classic Brookes books from top early childhood experts. Share this post with families, and help them make the most of their special storytimes with young children.

Ensure that children "see themselves" in books you read. Cultivate a diverse library, including books that feature characters who look like your child and share their cultural background, family structure, and interests. For children of color and those with disabilities or challenges, who may often be exposed to stereotyped images in mainstream culture, books that provide realistic images and affirmation of identity are essential (even for very young children).

Stock your library with different kinds of books. Storybooks are important, but don't forget to include informational books that teach young children about key concepts and expand their knowledge of the world (e.g., books about animals, machines, natural phenomena, and other countries).

Set the stage for success with comfortable seating, a quiet environment free from distractions, and sufficient lighting for reading the print and examining the pictures. (It might be helpful to have a designated reading space prepared so you can share a book whenever the opportunity arises.) Position yourselves so that you and the child (or children) can see the book at the same time.

Engage your child with questions about the book. Ask questions that challenge and "stretch" your child. These may be questions about the names for things, but they can also be about why characters are doing things or how they're feeling. Informational books can give you rich starting points for talk about the physical world. Praise your child when they respond to your questions and ask their own!

Use books to expand your child's vocabulary. Watch for words you think your child may not know and briefly talk about them. When you reread a book, ask your child if he remembers what the word means, and try to use new words at other times of the day to reinforce knowledge.

Read a story with a strong pattern. Encourage the child to retell the story, replicating the pattern. After your child has learned to retell the story, have him create his own story with similar patterns. Help him make his own books, using word and picture stickers, dictation, and drawings.

Play a rhyming game. Select a storybook that contains one word that rhymes with at least two other words by changing the initial sound (e.g., tea/sea/key, tell/bell/fell). During shared reading, interrupt the story when the target word appears and make a comment: "This word tea sounds like the word sea. The words tea and sea rhyme, which means that they sound the same except for the first sound. Tea starts with a 'tuh' sound, and sea starts with a 'sss' sound. Can you think of another word that rhymes with tea and sea?"

Adapt books if necessary. For young children with disabilities, modifications may be needed to provide opportunities for developing preliteracy skills. Try attaching foam pieces to the edges of the pages to make page-turning easier, simplifying books by stressing key words or shortening sentences, using photographs and other materials that extend the concepts and vocabulary, and adding tactile experiences while reading to children with vision and hearing loss.

Use books as "bibliotherapy." Choose books that deal with tough emotions and tell reassuring stories about characters who struggle with sibling rivalry; conflicts with friends; feelings of smallness, guilt, or inadequacy; or feelings of being left out or different. These can help children work out common fears, worries, and social problems.

Reread books. It's no secret that children enjoy hearing their favorite books many times! That's a good thing: repetition gives them many chances to absorb the language of the book. Make sure you select high-quality books to increase the usefulness of these repeat readings.
Like today's blog post? Check out the books that inspired it:
Tips 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 15, and 16 adapted from Connecting Through Talk by David K. Dickinson & Ann B. Morse

Tips 2, 8, 9, and 14 adapted from by Betty Bardige

Tip 13 adapted from Assistive Technology for Young Children by Kathleen Curry Sadao and Nancy B. Robinson

Tips 4, 10, and 11 adapted from Shared Storybook Reading by Helen Ezell & Laura Justice

DOWNLOAD OUR 2019 READING CALENDAR

Want 12 months of tips on promoting reading readiness for young children? Print this full-color calendar today and share it with the families you know! Just click the button below and fill out the quick form to get your printable download.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
16 Shared Reading Tips to Share with Parents

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Shared storybook reading is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child. At its best, this one activity can promote strong parent-child attachment, nurture key early language and literacy skills, strengthen a child's pride in their cultural and personal identity, expand their knowledge of the world, and help them process strong emotions and deal with life's challenges.

# data[].attributes.headline
Supporting Early Language and Literacy at Home

# data[].attributes.subject
Supporting Early Language and Literacy at Home

# data[].attributes.headline
12 Ways Parents and Teachers Can Encourage Early Literacy and Language Skills | The Inclusion Lab

# data[].attributes.subject
12 Ways Parents and Teachers Can Encourage Early Literacy and Language Skills | The Inclusion Lab

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Whether you're an early childhood teacher or a parent (or both), you play an important part in helping the children in your care become literate citizens. Even at a time of great uncertainty and change, the days are still filled with rich opportunities for nurturing young children's language and literacy skills, from preplanned dramatic play activities to spontaneous talk at the dinner table.

Today's post gives you 12 specific, practical tips for giving young children's early literacy and language skills a boost, adapted from and inspired by some new and classic Brookes books from top early childhood experts. Teachers: share these ideas with parents of young children, and tuck them away for your own use when your classroom is safe to reopen.

Help children make their own books. Homemade books are a great way to practice literacy skills and preserve memories of special events such as field trips or a fun family outing you took earlier this year. Help children who can't yet write by transcribing words as children say them and then reading the words back, pointing to the words to make the connection between spoken and written language. Include the child's artwork to illustrate the book. (This can easily be adapted for classroom use, too. When you're back in session, try writing a book as a whole class. Be sure to include a dictated or written idea and an illustration from each child.)

Make literacy-related prop boxes. Prop boxes are themed dramatic play activities bundled together in a decorative box. Great for use at home as well as in classrooms, they typically include a few books related to a theme, puppets or other toys children can use to help reenact the stories, and props such as paper and markers to help kids practice literacy skills as they play. For example, you might paint a box to look like a schoolhouse and stock it with books about school and props such as alphabet books, chalk, a chalkboard, a pointer, writing implements, and paper. Or if a child is missing trips to the store, make a prop box that looks like a grocery store or another kind of shop. Include an apron and hat, a book on buying groceries and other books about healthy foods, a stamper, cereal boxes, play money, and coupons. These prop boxes give kids endless opportunities to practice early literacy skills while they role-play.

Give favorite play areas a literacy infusion. Take note of where your kids like to play the most, and include literacy-related items and props in those areas. For example, if you have a child-sized kitchen set or play house that the children love, stock it with cookbooks, notepads, markers, large pencils, blank recipe cards, a telephone book and telephone, food coupons, and grocery store fliers. These types of items and activities can help children understand and appreciate the purposes of literacy and language skills in real life.

Have extended responsive conversations. Children's language skills are enriched and expanded when adults engage them in back-and-forth conversations that extend over multiple turns and encourage the child to play an active role. Asking children to tell personal narratives about their experiences is a good way to initiate these responsive conversations. Dickinson & Morse use the phrase "strive for five" as a rule of thumb-that is, try to have a sequence of five back-and-forth exchanges with the child before the conversation ends.

Point out signs and labels. Call the child's attention to words in print around the house, in the classroom, or on a drive. Point out words on a street sign, read labels on food items or art supplies together, and show the child other forms of print (on billboards, in newspapers and magazines). Putting labels on objects can also help-point to them throughout the day (or during circle time, when you're back in school). Awareness of this kind of "environmental print" is a very important part of developing reading and language skills.

Play with rhymes. Teach young children funny rhymes using a rhyming book and laugh about the stories in it. Play rhyming games of coming up with words that rhyme with a particular word, for example, for cat, try to come up with words such as fat and sat.

Introduce unusual words. Don't underestimate a young child's ability to learn new words, even longer and more unusual ones. Introduce sophisticated vocabulary words, have the child say them, and then ask the child to try to figure out what the words mean. Words connected to a child's interests or a favorite book might be especially fun to learn. Some children may enjoy learning the long, multisyllabic names of dinosaurs; others may like the fanciful words in Dr. Seuss books.

Serve up some talk at the table. Sharing food together can provide a perfect opportunity to engage in enriching talk and expand children's language skills. For high-quality table talk, you might:

Share updates about your day

Talk about and plan things you would like to do in the future, when you no longer have to stay at home-vacations, field trips, a play date in the park

Have a conversation about the food-do you like today's meal? How was the food grown? How do you think it was prepared?

Share the best and worst thing that happened today or yesterday

Take turns telling jokes

Welcome storytellers. Children love to hear stories-not just in books, but from people themselves. Boost early language skills by connecting kids with interesting guests who can share their stories and answer children's questions. While you're at home, you might videochat with the child's grandparent or a family friend and ask them to tell stories about what it was like when they were young. And teachers, once you're back in school, consider inviting some guest speakers to your classroom to talk about their jobs or areas of expertise that children might find interesting.

Look for words in other words. This is a simple game parents and teachers can play anytime and anywhere. Show the children a longer word and ask them to play "print detective" and find smaller words within it. For example, they can find can in candy, pot in potato, and to, get, and her in together.

Proudly display children's early writing attempts. When you value and celebrate children's efforts to write, they'll be more likely to try other writing activities. Showcase children's work on wall displays or in albums, portfolios, or scrapbooks. Write a label, title, or caption with the child's help, and encourage the child to add their signature. Ask the child to talk with you about how they created their masterpiece.

Make modifications to increase access. For young children with disabilities, modifications may be needed to provide opportunities for developing preliteracy skills. To increase access to books at home and at school, parents and teachers might:

Attach foam pieces to the edges of the pages to make page turning easier

Simplify books by stressing key words, shortening sentences, and abbreviating text

Use objects, photographs, icons, and other materials that extend the concepts and vocabulary

Add tactile experiences while reading to children who experience vision and hearing loss

What's your favorite strategy for boosting young children's language and literacy skills? Share a game or activity you love in the comments section below!

Like today's blog post? Check out the books that inspired it:

Tips 1-3 adapted from User's Guide to the Child/Home Early Language and Literacy Observation (CHELLO) by Susan B. Neuman, Julie Dwyer, & Serene Koh

Tip 4 adapted from Connecting Through Talk by David K. Dickinson & Ann B. Morse

Tips 5-7 adapted from Pathways to Competence, Second Edition, by Sarah Landy

Tips 8-11 adapted from by Betty Bardige

Tip 12 adapted from Assistive Technology for Young Children by Kathleen Curry Sadao and Nancy B. Robinson

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
12 Ways Parents and Teachers Can Encourage Early Literacy and Language Skills

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Whether you're an early childhood teacher or a parent (or both), you play an important part in helping the children in your care become literate citizens. Even at a time of great uncertainty and change, the days are still filled with rich opportunities for nurturing young children's language and literacy skills, from preplanned dramatic play activities to spontaneous talk at the dinner table.

# data[].attributes.body
Free and available to all FCPS students. Choose your school and use your student ID to log in.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Type two or more letters to search, use arrow keys to navigate, Enter to select

# data[].attributes.body
These databases all have fiction and nonfiction ebooks, and sources for research and learning. Log-ins are sometimes your @fcpsschools.net account OR, specific to your school. Ask your teacher or librarian for the login information if your fcpsschools account doesn't work.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Online Databases and eBooks

These databases and eBooks are centrally purchased for the use of all Fairfax County Public Schools students and staff. Many schools purchase additional databases. Please see your school's librarian for more information. Home access requires a password. See your librarian for a password list.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
These databases and eBooks are centrally purchased for the use of all Fairfax County Public Schools students and staff. Many schools purchase additional databases. Please see your school's librarian for more information. Home access requires a password. See your librarian for a password list.

# data[].attributes.headline
Activities to do at home from the Family Resource Center that encourage early reading skills

# data[].attributes.subject
Activities to do at home from the Family Resource Center that encourage early reading skills

# data[].attributes.body
Make slime, practice telling stories, go on a treasure hunt...

# data[].attributes.body
Reading a book isn't just about the words that come out of your mouth. It's the whole experience! Great Wolf Lodge has really easy tips to make reading aloud and story time more fun for you and your kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Simple ways to go from reading a story to becoming a storyteller

Who doesn't love a good story? Having originated through visual stories and cave drawings, storytelling has become a popular bedtime ritual for kids all over the world.

These days, there are a lot of different options to entertain, but for little kids, the choice is obvious. They want to head to bed with a story, of course!

Storytelling for children is a great way to connect after a busy day apart. It also helps introduce them to new words and practice their listening skills, which are important components to their development.

Still, reading stories for kids doesn't always come naturally, so we put together our very own video and guide to help coach you through the process.

While we're not saying you're going to become the next Shakespeare, the tips below should help keep your kids hanging on your every word!

How to Become a Better Storyteller

1. Select your book

Of course, there are tons of options out there to choose from. Maybe your child has a favorite series they want to continue with. Or, maybe the kids at school have been talking about a certain story they want to experience.

Talk to your little ones and see what sparks their interest. If you're looking for suggestions, we recommend our Isn't Nature Great, a springtime story featuring all of your favorite Great Wolf Kids!

2. Set The Mood

Remember, ambiance is important. There are certain ways to set the mood to ensure a successful storytelling endeavor. Listed below are a few friendly tips:

a. Accessorize. Find some props that help you set a scene related to the story. This will help keep the kids engaged in the process and prevent them from wandering over to nearby distractions.

b. Add some drama with a musical undertone. Music is a great way to engage the senses during story time. It's also a pretty reliable way to secure an emotional connection to the characters.

c. Lower the lights. There's a reason why they dim the lights at the theater! Lowering the lights can help eliminate surrounding distractions and keep your kids focused on the story. It's also a great way to get them settled down and ready for bed.

3. Make an entrance to start the story and settle into the scene you created

What better way to grab the kids' attention than appearing out of your everyday clothes and in something a bit more imaginative? The more fun you have with it, the more likely the kids will too!

Get in costume. Add some fun costume pieces that embellish the story or define you as a storyteller. Remember, storytelling is all about using your imagination. What better way to step into the story than dressing as if you are already part of its reality!

4. Find ways to engage your audience

a. Create a craft to be used in the story. If you've decided to kick off your storytelling tradition with Isn't Nature Great, you can use this paper hand puppet activity sheet!

b. Identify places in the story to:

Make sound effects. Here's a great opportunity to get the kids involved. Decide as a family what kind of sound effects you want to add into the story. Maybe each character gets their own special sound effect, or maybe a silly sound emerges each time you turn the page. Try assigning a certain sound effect to everyone involved in the storytelling circle.

Ask them questions. Again, it's all about keeping the kids engaged. Asking questions throughout the story means they'll be more likely to pay attention. It's also a good way to assess their listening skills, memory, vocabulary and understanding.

5. Make it a nightly tradition

The earlier you introduce your kids to good habits, the more likely they are to adopt them. Reading is one of the few recreations kids have left that doesn't require an outlet. Picking up a book is a great way for them to enhance their imagination, improve their vocabulary and learn to like spending time away from the screen.

We hope you enjoyed our guide to storytelling for kids! To make it easy for you to follow the tips above, we've created a printable PDF version that you can download here. Keep reading if you want to learn more about the history of storytelling and the many advantages it offers!

History of Telling Stories

The history of storytelling dates back to the first men, when visual stories such as cave drawings were all the rage, making it not just an old tradition, but an ancient one.

From there it transformed to the oral tradition, then the written word, and now we're in the digital era.

Thus, it's no mystery why we're so attracted to this form of story telling. We happen to be really good at it! In fact, a good majority of our daily conversations revolve around storytelling. It's how we communicate traditions, social morals, individual histories and daily events.

Why Storytelling is Good for Kids

As we've mentioned above, storytelling is a great way to develop the creative mind. It's also an easy way to introduce young children to new vocabulary, sentence structure and grammar.

In addition, storytelling can introduce problem-solving capabilities, enhance cultural understanding and boost memory. It can even help your kids in the classroom, by encouraging active participation, enhancing their listening skills and motivating them to communicate their thoughts and feelings.

According to G. Reid Lyon, Ph.D., chief of the child development and behavior branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Bethesda, MD, "there's a clear indication of a neurological difference between kids who have been regularly read to and kids who have not".

To get the maximum benefits though, you want to keep it fun. Peter Gorski, M.D., chair of the early childhood committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics, says that to best confer reading's cognitive benefits, a child's experiences with books should be enjoyable. He notes that you want them to associate reading with emotional warmth and fun.

This is why becoming a great storyteller is so important! There a tons of positive benefits it can have on your child, both short and long-term.

That's all for today. If you want to spruce up their bedroom with a bit of nature, have a look out our Earth Day activities post for some creative ideas. Don't forget to check back in with us soon to see what other at-home activities we can help walk you through!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Storytelling for Kids - How to Make Bedtime Stories Fun - Great Wolf Lodge

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Who doesn't love a good story? Having originated through visual stories and cave drawings, storytelling has become a popular bedtime ritual for kids all over the world. These days, there are a lot of different options to entertain, but for little kids, the choice is obvious.

# data[].attributes.headline
Preschool teacher reads aloud with focus on numbers, letters, shapes, etc.

# data[].attributes.subject
Preschool teacher reads aloud with focus on numbers, letters, shapes, etc.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
"the loud librarian" "life christian preschool" storytime "preschool library"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Loud Librarian here! Enjoy preschool story time with me every Thursday at 10 am 🤗

# data[].attributes.body
Wonderfully entertaining and relatable stories about dealing with emotions, behaviors, school and family issues. Parents and kids both love her books!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
BOOKENDS with Julia Cook: Wilma Jean the Worry Machine

# data[].attributes.body
from KidTimeStoryTime

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mindfulness for Kids ~ CHILDREN'S BOOKS Read Aloud - YouTube

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Read Alouds for Kids ideal for this time of Coronavirus with a focus on growing resilient, emotionally aware kids who can overcome fear, anxiety and/or selfi...

# data[].attributes.headline
Children's books read aloud in many languages!

# data[].attributes.subject
Children's books read aloud in many languages!

# data[].attributes.body
from BookBox

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
accent along animated animation bookbox cartoon child children comprehension efl esl first foreign kids language learn listening moral pronunciation read rec...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome to BookBox, the land of AniBooks (animated storybooks)! AniBooks are specially designed animated stories that help in reading and language learning f...

# data[].attributes.body
from KidTimeStoryTime

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
May is Bilingual Literacy Month! And you've come to the right playlist. Sometimes the book is in English AND Spanish. Sometimes it's all Spanish & I translat...

# data[].attributes.body
Including story-times with Brad Meltzer (XAVIER RIDDLE AND THE SECRET MUSEUM), Marc Brown (ARTHUR), Victoria Kann (PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC) Angela Santomero (Creator of DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD) and more.

Along with story-time of a beloved book, each PBS KIDS Read-Along is designed to encourage engagement among families who tune in, with activity ideas and questions that spark conversation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
To encourage family engagement and a love of reading at home, PBS KIDS offers families a place to come together and read along with fan-favorites on YouTube.…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Library News and Notes

June 2, 2021

Dear Readers,

Great news! I was able to rebuild a simple version of the in-browser book reader which has enabled me to add back all of the ICDL books. The interface is not what it used to be, and we no longer have translations of books (only the original language the book was published in) - but we have all ~4,000 books back. The site is fast and reliable and should be able to stay around for some time to come. Happy reading!

May 5, 2021

Dear Readers,

Good news! Thanks to the UMD Computer Science Department, which has agreed to host a static version of ICDL, we have been able to resuscitate the library a bit, and have brought back 1/4 of the books in PDF form (that we have "download" rights for). We had to create a vastly simpler site without many, many of the features - no search, no translations, etc. But about 1,000 of the books are back, and we will work on bringing back more books and at least some aspects of the original site. Please note that we do not have the right to allow you to redistribute these books further, and they are provided to you only for personal use.

Thank you for so many of your heart-warming and gracious emails which encouraged us to find a way to keep the ICDL alive.

April 19, 2021

Dear Readers,

It has been over 20 years since we launched the International Children's Digital Library. In that time, we have served about 15 million people reading over 1,000,000 hours of children's books. We launched at a time when the concept of reading books online was a bit odd, and almost unheard of for children's books. After all these years, as far we know, we are still the largest collection of freely available complete children's books from around the world. And we did that without ever exposing children to commercial activities or risking their privacy.

But for many years, we have served this mission without any funds. And now all of the founders have moved on to other things in their lives. The servers are very old and dusty and there is no one to maintain them. Our licenses for the books are for use only by the ICDL so while we have considered a number of alternatives, none of them really made sense.

And so now it is time to say goodbye and read with the innumerable other resources in the world. The ICDL has been our labor of love, and we will always remember these books, the volunteers, libraries, publishers, and readers around the world with great fondness.

Keep reading!

- Founders Ben Bederson, Allison Druin, Ann Weeks, Anne Rose and Tim Browne (in memoriam)
Email directors

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
ICDL - International Children's Digital Library