Enhance Your Child's Storytime: Fun, Interactive Pre-Reading Activities & Learning Tips

Reading with children is a delightful and enriching experience. Beyond the stories themselves, how you engage your child in pre-reading activities can significantly enhance their enjoyment and readiness for storytime. The video transcript from Rella B's YouTube channel offers an excellent example of preparing young readers through both physical and mental engagement. Let's explore the methods used and how you can incorporate these activities into your routine for a more interactive and fulfilling reading experience.

Preparing the Body: Active Play

Before settling down for storytime, Rella B's YouTube channel encourages children to get moving and stretching. This physical activity helps expend energy, allowing them to focus better during the story. Here are some fun activities you can try:

Role-Playing Different Automobiles

One creative method used in the video is pretending to be different types of automobiles. This not only prepares your child's body but also sparks their imagination. Here's how you can do it:

• Cars:
  • Pretend to drive a car by sitting and holding an imaginary steering wheel.
  • Move your feet as if pressing the gas pedal.
  • This exercise develops balance and coordination.
• Trains:
  • Stand up and march in place, making train sounds like "chug chug chug choo choo."
  • Use your arms to mimic the pistons of a steam engine.
  • This promotes rhythm and sequential movement.
• Airplanes:
  • Stretch your arms out and glide around the room.
  • Encourage them to make swooping motions and sounds.
  • This helps with balance and spatial awareness.
• Helicopters:
  • Spin around with arms extended, mimicking propellers.
  • Ensure this is done in a spacious area to avoid dizziness.
  • This activity improves motor skills and coordination.

Preparing the Mind: Mental Engagement

In addition to physical activity, Rella B also engages children's minds with riddles and language learning, getting them mentally ready for the story. Here's a fun example:

Rella's Riddle

Before diving into the book, Rella B presents a riddle that ties into the upcoming story's themes. This stimulates the children's minds while providing an engaging lead-in to the narrative:

Riddle Example:

• Hint 1: I normally have to do with light.
• Hint 2: The moon, stars, and sun all do this.
• Hint 3: You have an inner light that blinks brightly.

The answer? Shine or sparkle. This riddle not only warms up the brain but also connects to the central theme of the story they are about to hear.

Learning New Words

Rella B goes beyond riddles by teaching children how to say "shine" or "sparkle" in different languages, including American Sign Language (ASL) and Spanish:

• ASL: Use either one hand or both hands in a flicking motion.
• Spanish: "Shine" in Spanish is "destello."

This activity fosters linguistic diversity and encourages curiosity about learning new languages—an important step in broadening your child's educational experience.

Story Time: "Be the Sparkle"

The main story in the video is *"Be the Sparkle"* by Jamie Edelbrock, illustrated by iNDOS Studio. This delightful book not only entertains children but also teaches valuable life lessons. Let's dive into the story:

Exploring the Story

Building Connection and Routine

Rella B begins the storytime session by building a connection with the children, reassuring them that it's okay to feel afraid and that they are never alone. This helps create a safe and comfortable space for the children to engage with the story.

The Story's Message

"Be the Sparkle" emphasizes how children can be a source of light in the world, even when things feel dark. The book showcases small, everyday acts of kindness that children can perform, making them feel empowered to brighten someone's day:

• Small Acts of Kindness: Smiling at strangers, hugging family members, holding the door open for others.
• Community Spirit: Leaving encouraging notes in public places, picking up litter, cooking for friends in need.
• Creativity and Support: Painting positive messages on rocks, collecting food for those in need, staying in touch with distant loved ones.

These actions remind children how small gestures can have a big impact on their community and the world around them.

Reflections and Connections

After the story, Rella B takes time to reflect with the children, helping them connect the story's messages to their own lives. This segment reinforces the importance of kindness and encourages children to adopt these behaviors themselves.

Support the author by purchasing your own copy here.

Involving the Community

Rella B's YouTube channel thrives on community involvement, encouraging children to participate in the activities and share their experiences:

Co-Creator Recognition

• Shout-Outs: Recognizing children who have participated or contributed adds a personal touch, making kids feel valued.
• Engagement Encouragement: By inviting others to co-create, Rella B builds a supportive community of learners and readers.

Beyond the Screen: Additional Resources

If you're eager for more ways to engage with Rella B’s content, here are some helpful resources:

• Link to Purchase the Book: For families who want to add *"Be the Sparkle"* to their home library.
• Screen-Free Options: Listen to the podcast version of storytime for a great way to develop listening skills.
• Website Resources: Visit the Rella B Books website for additional participation opportunities and educational materials.

Conclusion

Engaging children in storytime goes beyond just reading a book. By incorporating physical activities, mental engagement like riddles, learning new languages, and community participation, you can make storytime a fun, interactive, and enriching experience. Rella B's YouTube channel is a fantastic example of how to create an immersive, educational storytime session that not only builds literacy skills but fosters imagination and kindness. Use these ideas to light up your child’s world with learning, laughter, and love!