Does My Child Have to Sit Down to Share a Book?
Now that I have two toddler grand-babies, I remember just how hard it is to have a quiet and still story time.
As parents/grandparents, we have a “fantasy” story time in mind when we sit down to read…
It’s quiet. You are sitting calmly with all your children beside you. You’re slowly reading a bedtime story-complete with fantastic voices and incredible sound effects. Your children “oooo” and “aaa” at all the right places and clap when the story ends.
However, the “real” version usually goes a little differently!
It’s chaos. You are reading aloud to one child-who is near you on the couch. There is one chasing the dog. The other could be building a dinosaur or it could be a rocket ship-not sure-out of a combination of building blocks and two-day-old cereal. You announce “the end” just to have a sense of accomplishment.
So what does that tell us?
Children are usually in motion.
And even I remember the Law of Motion-what’s in motion, tends to stay in motion.
So let’s NOT FIGHT IT! LET’S USE IT!
Combining reading and physical activity gives children the freedom to enjoy books in new ways.
Let’s build gross motor skills as we swish through the tall grass of a bear hunt or twirl with the giraffes as they dance. We could develop fine motor skills as we practice bottoning Miss Mary Mack’s buttons or looking for hidden treasures with pirates!
They can read and sing. Read and dance. Read and climb. Read and build. Maybe even read and chase the dog!
Physical activity builds brains, develops confidence, and helps fitness and motor skills. Reading works on language skills, sparks problem solving, and creates a love of books.
So….
Dance. Wiggle. Giggle. Jump. Shout. Whisper. Build. And Read!
Happy Reading!
Lisa Davis, Early Literacy Coordinator
For more a great book list to get those kiddos moving with books, check out this source:
https://fit.sanfordhealth.org/blog/top-10-childrens-books-to-inspire-physical-activity
Remember! You can always go to one of our Story Walk at the Parks to enjoy the great outdoors, fresh air, movement, and a new story each month! Visit Steed, Hubert By-Pass, Stump Sound, Deppe, and Onslow Pines Parks. For more info, go to
https://www.oneplaceonslow.org/for-parents-and-early-educators/free-books-literacy-programs/#storywalk
For information about the First 2000 Days of your child’s life and the impacts of reading with children, https://buildthefoundation.org/issue/reading-with-children/.