Reading Aloud and Storytelling for Children

Reading to children - preferably every day

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Is there a child who doesn't like being read to? When a book is brought out, most are immediately engaged: cozily cuddled up, with a good view of possible pictures, they listen eagerly to the story. Reading aloud is much more than a cozy bedtime ritual. Experts agree that reading together plays a major role in children's language development. We answer the most Questions about reading aloud:

From what age can I read to my child?

Basically from the very beginning. Even newborns listen attentively to their parents' voices and in doing so learn the rhythm and modulation of language. A child who grows up being read to is later more likely to enjoy reading themselves - and they learn to listen from the start, which makes communication with others easier for them.

When or where should I read to my child?

The classic times to read aloud are before bedtime or in the afternoon: with a nice story your child can settle down and spend some time only with mom or dad. But reading aloud works anytime, especially on the go. If you always have one or two small-format children's books with you, it will never be boring on the bus, in the waiting room, or while traveling.

What should I read to my child?

You can read anything to babies, even your own favorite books — your voice is more important than the content of the book. For toddlers, picture books with little text and sturdy pages that they can turn themselves are suitable. Preschool children can also focus on somewhat longer stories, but there should still be pictures to illustrate and make what they hear understandable. From primary school onwards you can read longer books over several days — children are now able to remember what they've heard and relate parts of the story to each other.

Poems for children

Stories in rhyming form: Poems exert a special fascination on children because the rhymed stanzas bring a unique language rhythm that is clearly different from 'normal' speaking or reading aloud. In addition, many poems are compact mini-stories that describe an event with a beginning, a narrative arc, and an end.
Reciting poems together: Some parents are unsure when they should read or recite poems with their children. Basically a poem fits whenever you would normally read or tell stories, for example in the afternoon while cuddling or before falling asleep. A short poem before meals is also a nice ritual.
Positive effects of poems: Poems are not only entertaining, they also train language comprehension. The rhymes and the compact narrative style practice creative use of language and expand vocabulary. Those who learn poems by heart also train their memory and their concentration.
Learn by heart! A poem sounds best when it is recited freely from memory. Children also quickly learn to stress the poem correctly and keep the rhythm when they have memorized a poem. Simply repeat a short poem a few times – your child will quickly become familiar with the stanzas.

Making up stories with children

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Let your imagination run wild

Some parents don't read a bedtime story in the evening, but instead invent stories for their children themselves. That's a wonderful thing, because the story always develops in the way that suits the child best and often the child plays the main role in the adventure. But inventing stories is a skill that needs to be learned. Not everyone can simply conjure up a plot with a beginning, an end, and all the details on the spot. However, you can practice making up stories – preferably together with your child.

Stories stimulate the imagination

When you make up stories together, you never know exactly where they're going. The plot can suddenly change or new characters may appear. That requires creativity — and you can practice it, for example, by starting with a question game: ask your child "What if..." questions for them to answer. Conversely, your child should come up with questions or scenarios that you respond to.

Inventing stories with several children

You can also play making up stories like a game, for example in daycare or at a child's birthday party. All the children sit in a circle and first set the basic outline of the plot: Who is the hero of the story, where does he live and what adventure should he have? Anyone who wants can draw the character of the story and their home on a large sheet of paper to bring the story to life. Then everyone tells in turn, with each getting 2–3 minutes. If the story stalls, you can help with an idea or a targeted question, e.g. "XXX luckily had a magical object in their bag — but what was it again?"

Free storytelling

How you can practice storytelling in everyday life

Formulating situations or feelings in your own words is not so easy for children. Even adults sometimes have difficulty speaking freely or telling things 'off the cuff'. But you can practice telling and listening in everyday life, casually and without making a big deal out of it:

Avoid closed questions:Instead of "Was it nice at kindergarten?" ask "What did you like best at kindergarten today?" or "Which games did you play today?"
Share experiences or memories with your child:"Do you remember when we were on holiday?", "Do you remember how you painted this picture?" This way your child starts telling and practices expressing impressions.
Talk about the day:After the bedtime story you can take a few more minutes to talk with your child about the day. Let them tell what they liked, when they were annoyed, or what they'd like to do tomorrow. Most children tell on their own — if not, you can help with questions or start telling yourself.
Storytelling while playing:Tell stories when you play with your child: what the teddy experiences on its way through the room or how one of the cars on the carpet has a flat tire. They can be very simple, small situations — but your child practices representing situations with language.

Finger games and rhymes for young children

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Rhymed stories and games

Toddlers may not yet have the patience to listen to or look at a whole book from beginning to end. Finger games and short rhymes introduce babies and toddlers to language in a playful way. The linguistic stimulus in finger games is reinforced by touch and becomes even more firmly imprinted in very young children. Even if a child does not yet understand the words of a finger game, they will soon remember the movements and know what comes next.

Tooth Fairy & Co

Stories as little helpers in everyday life

Stories are not only entertainment; they also help children to understand unfamiliar situations or process certain experiences. Thus, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are, on the one hand, an explanation for the gifts given on the holidays, and on the other hand they make the celebration a bit more mysterious and increase the suspense.

The Tooth Fairy: With the story of the Tooth Fairy it is similar: The idea of a kindly fairy who collects the fallen baby teeth and replaces them with a small gift takes away the fright of the first wobbly teeth and makes children proud when the tooth finally comes out. Many parents also include a letter from the Tooth Fairy with the gift, in which she admonishes the children to brush their permanent teeth well.
Pacifier Fairy & Co: The Pacifier Fairy is a relatively recent invention. The story of the kind fairy who exchanges the pacifier for a gift to give it to a newborn baby helps young children say goodbye to their pacifier.

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