Story time isn’t just about entertaining your child with fun stories - it’s a magical experience that can help build a strong foundation for learning to read. By using research based strategies that are proven to work, you can turn story time into an opportunity to improve your child’s literacy. Here are 3 creative and effective ways to teach your child to read during story time.

1. Interactive Reading: Building Early Reading Skills 

Interactive reading is one of the most effective early reading strategies. When you read aloud with your child, encourage them to be actively engaged. Look at the pictures together and use them as reading clues to talk about what’s happening in the story or predict what might happen next. Ask questions. Talk about characters, objects, and activities. These conversations help expand vocabulary and build background knowledge. 

For example, if the book shows a picture of a ball, ask, “What is this?” Or, point at the word, ball and ask, "What do you think this word says?" Then, name the object or read the word aloud. Over time, your child will start associating words with their meanings and images. Connecting the sounds we hear to letters on the page is a critical skill for learning to read. 

It’s important to find the balance between reading and discussion. The first time you read a book, you will want to spend most of the time reading and looking at the pictures. On repeated readings, you can pause every few pages and talk about one or two ideas or connect spoken words to print. You know your child best, so you are the best person to decide when to move along in the story to keep the experience fun and engaging. 

Benefits of Interactive Reading:

• Builds vocabulary
• Expands background knowledge
• Encourages phonics and word recognition

2. Repetition and Predictable Phrases: Boosting Reading Fluency

Children learn best when they can anticipate what comes next. This is why they love having the same book read to them over and over. They also enjoy books with predictable phrases, rhyming patterns, and repeated text. This gives your child the opportunity to "read" along with you.

When you read books with predictable text or repetitive phrases, encourage your child to read along with you or complete lines with a rhyming word. For example: When two lines rhyme, read the first line and pause before the last word on the second line so your child can say the rhyming word. This skill takes practice, so provide support by beginning to mouth the word. They will soon catch on and finish the rhymes on their own.  

Benefits of Repetition in Reading:

• Encourages participation for pre-readers
• Increases knowledge of written language
• Boosts reading confidence through familiarity

3. Make Reading Fun: Use Character Voices and Expression

Story time should be an exciting and magical adventure for you and your child! Using character voices and expression are great ways to keep your child engaged. You can involve them by taking turns talking for the different characters or having them respond to questions such as, “What does a duck say?” Reading with expression and using different voices for the characters will create interest and inspire your child to join in!

Having your child read aloud is important for helping them read smoothly with appropriate speed. This skill is called fluency. Repeating lines, finishing rhymes, and mimicking character voices are simple ways to practice fluency. Reading aloud builds reading confidence and provides practice using tone, rhythm, and punctuation.

Drawing attention to characters in a story helps children develop social emotional awareness. They learn how different characters interact and respond to situations in the story. Talking about the characters and their choices is a great way to share wisdom and help your child develop strategies for self-regulation.

Benefits of Using Voices and Expression:

• Enhances knowledge of phonological awareness (knowledge of sounds)
• Makes reading together a joyful experience
• Develops social/emotional awareness 

Summary

Story time is the perfect activity for creating strong family bonds. The magical adventure of reading stories together is a joyful way to introduce your child to a world of possibilities. Through interacting with your child, building fluency, and adding expression, you are laying the foundation that will help them become a strong, confident reader.

Additional Reading Tips:

• Try to find at least 10-15 minutes a day for shared reading time
• Have your child choose books to go along with the ones you choose
• Make reading together a playful, happy experience so books become a desired source of enjoyment and knowledge
• Reading together doesn’t have to be perfect. Your child might be playing with toys or building a fort, but you may be surprised to know that they are listening and learning. Find a way that works for your child and their personality.
• Choose a time and strategy that works for your family - early morning, after supper, bedtime, take turns with one family member reading while the other is preparing meals, doing chores, or driving to an afterschool activity - whatever you can manage will be so worthwhile.

The gift of reading leads to success in academics, career, and life. Helping your child develop a love of reading is one of the most important things you can do as a parent. If you are feeling a little overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, drop us a note, and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction: Contact us link  

Sources

Murray, Geralyn G. 2013 Helping Preschool Children Acquire Critical Literacy Skills Through Parent Training and Intervention. Auburn, Alabama Google Scholar

Shayne B. Piasta, Jessica A. R. Logan, Kristin S. Farley, Tara M. Strang & Laura M. Justice (2022) Profiles and Predictors of Children’s Growth in Alphabet Knowledge, Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (JESPAR), 27:1, 1-26, DOI: 10.1080/10824669.2021.1871617 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10824669.2021.1871617 

Weisleder, Adriana and Fernald, Anne. Talking to children matters: Early language experience strengthens processing and builds vocabulary Google Scholar