We know as parents and grandparents that reading to our kiddoes is good for them, and even good for us. But, sometimes we just can’t seem to get our kids to stay focused as we try to complete a story. There are times when we have to be creative with ways in which we can pull our kids into the reading process or the story itself. We have to create interaction between the child and the story.

• Use a book with rhyme and leave out key rhyming words that the kids can then say out loud (or yell) out loud. Use a story that your child is already familiar with. Here’s an example from The Very Brave Lion by Wendy Ravenhill and Cee Biscoe (precious story and pictures). Do this on each page- your child will pay extra attention and be very excited about knowing the missing words!

“You’re clever and brave and you always play fair.

Kings should be bold, but they still have to care.

At times it is tricky to know what to do.

Sometimes I feel frightened exactly like _________ (you)!”

• Use a book with rhythm and rhyme and tap along. I usually tap on the book itself, but sometimes I tap on a cute little belly instead! This models rhythm and can keep a child engaged.
• Use flipbooks with flaps that open to reveal part of the story! Once they understand the concept, have the child pull the flap on each page. If possible, have them NAME what’s under each flap as well! Gotta Go, Buffalo (Kevin and Haily Meyers) is a favorite with the grands.
• Use books with textures and board books with stiff pages that the kids can turn themselves. If they are turning the pages and can feel different textures, they are more likely to stay engaged.
• Make a color game out of the book. For example, say, “Let’s see if we can find something purple on each page.” This will direct their attention to the details of the illustrations and also help them learn their colors.
• Use books with SONGS. We like  Jesus Loves Me, (Tim Warnes), Baby Beluga (Raffi), Down by the Bay (Raffi), and What a Wonderful World (Bob Thiele,  George David Weiss)- all songs that have been made into children’s books that we can sing/read together.
• A tried and true idea is to let kids pick out the books that we read to them each evening. There may even come a time when you can ask THEM to tell or read the story to YOU! This can be surprisingly fun and creative.

If Mom or Dad can’t stay focused on the story, maybe some of these strategies help us stay focused too! One more fun and entertaining idea is to read with accents and/or exaggerated tones. The key is to make reading meaningful and something that we all look forward to.  So, as we BOOK TIME WITH OUR KIDS and use some interactive strategies, we may all feel a bit more focused and present with our sweet little blessings in those sweet little moments.

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Deuteronomy 6:6-9
These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. / And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. / Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ...