Want to tell your child a story? Sometimes the best children's bedtime stories are the ones parents make up. Here's how to start:
- Invent a character. Animals work well.
- Create a setting. Make it familiar and close to home.
- Create a problem or concern. Choose one your child can relate to now.
- Use feelings. Children’s feelings can be overwhelming; this helps them know they are normal.
- Send a message. Remind your child that no matter how he behaves, you will still love him.
- Resolve the problem. The endings don’t always need to be happy, but they should end on a loving note, with promises to work on the problem.
See "Read It Again! How to Read Aloud to Kids" by Patrick Fraley (The Audio Partnership Corp.) This audio tape offers fun tips and lots of advice for turning everyday stories into lively events for you and your kids.