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
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