When children act out a good poem or story, they show their own understanding of what
it is about. They also grow as readers by connecting emotion with the written word.
Try To Find
Poems or stories written from a child's point of view Things for using in a child's play
(dress-up clothes, puppets)
What To Do
The first activities in the list below work well with younger children. As your child
grows older, the later activities let her do more. But keep doing the first ones as long
as she enjoys them.
Read a poem slowly to your child. Read it with
feeling, making everything seem important.
If your child has a poem she especially likes,
ask her to act out a favorite line or two. When she is done, praise her for doing a good
job.
Ask your child to act out the poem (or a part of
it). Ask her to make a face of the way the character in the poem is feeling. Remember that
making different faces adds emotion to the performer's voice. You are her audience, so
again praise her and clap your hands.
Tell your child that her family would love to
see her perform her poem. Set a time when everyone can be together. When your child
finishes her performance, encourage her to take a bow while everyone claps and cheers
loudly.
Encourage your child to make up her own play
from a story she has read or heard. It can be make-believe or from real life. Help her
find or make things to go with the story a pretend crown, stuffed animals, a broomstick,
or whatever the story needs. Some of her friends or family also can help. You can write
down the words, or help her write them, if she is old enough. Then stage the play for
everyone to see!
Parent Pointer:
Play acting helps a child learn that there are more and less important parts to a story.
She also learns how one thing follows another.
Family Stories
For children ages 3 to 6
Family stories let your child know about the people who are important to him. They also
give him an idea of how one thing leads to another in a story.
What To Do
The first activities in the list below work well with younger children. As your child
grows older, the later activities let him do more. But keep doing the first ones as long
as he enjoys them.
Tell your child stories about your parents and grandparents or others who
are special to you and your family. You might even put these stories in a book and add old
photographs.
Think out loud about when you were little. Make a story out of something
that happened, like a family trip, a birthday party, or when you lost your first tooth.
Have your child tell you stories about what she did on special days, such
as holidays, birthdays, and family vacations.
If you go on a trip, write a trip journal with your child to make a new
family story. Writing down the day's special event and pasting its photograph into the
journal ties the family story to a written history. You can also include everyday trips
like going to the store or the park.
Parent Pointer:
The storyteller's voice helps your child hear the sounds of words and how they are put
together to mean something.
