SEVEN RAVENS
  • Educational Services
  • Seven Ravens Coaching
  • Storytelling by Sara

let's begin again

every life tells a story

Telling Stories with Toddlers: 3 Tips

2/11/2016

 
toddler storytime tipsFinger plays and nursery rhymes are great for toddler storytime. 3 more tips for telling tales to tots.
Lately, as I work on my storytelling curriculum (it's proprietary to my client, but I can make you one if you want. :) ), I'm getting questions from the toddler teachers. Everyone knows that preschoolers love stories, but how do we bring storytelling to our smaller friends? Last week and the week before, I scoured the library for storytelling guides, and there is a TON of books available. Books from amazing storytellers and librarians, and books by teachers, and books of stories and books of tips... 

How do you navigate all this information and really settle in with your story and your friends?
Here are three tips I've gleaned from amazing toddler teachers:
  1. Tell a story at mealtime. Little ones are already seated. They have something to do with their hands. They may need help to stay at the table, or something to occupy them as the slower eaters finish their meals. Telling a little story here can really make your meal or snack time feel more relaxed and easy. You can start with a simple fairy tale, like "Sweet Porridge" or "The Gingerbread Man," or tell a little nature story about an animal's daily life.  Keep it simple and sweet!
  2. Movement and gestures are golden. Telling a story that has repeated phrases, or a little story in rhyme, is perfect for under 3s.  It becomes even better when you add in some simple (there's that word again!) hand gestures and movements. Look online for collections of finger plays and stories, like this one.  
  3. Try, try again! Learning to be part of a storytime is a skill, one with a lot of component skills. Toddlers are wiggly and giggly, so keep your story short, and if it's not the right day or time for a story, they'll let you know! Just keep experimenting with what works for your little friends. 

Toddlers love to spend special time with the grownups in their lives, and they thrive on routine, so make storytime part of your daily or weekly rhythm of activities! Have fun, and let your little friends be your guides. 

Comments are closed.
    Picture
    hi. that's me.

    Author

     Hi. That's me. I write, sometimes, about  parenting, storytelling, and about living a life with stories.

    Buy Me a Coffee!!!


    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Biography
    Coaching
    Fairytales
    Festivals
    Life
    Links!
    Musings
    Parenting
    Story/reading
    Storytelling
    Teaching
    Waldorf
    Writing

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    January 2022
    June 2021
    January 2021
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from elvissa, gagilas, jkavo, Ross Elliott, libertygrace0, The Daring Librarian, Bob the courier
  • Educational Services
  • Seven Ravens Coaching
  • Storytelling by Sara