Almost every weekend that I'm in Barbados, I am at the Speightstown branch of the Barbados National Library Service, as a volunteer. I provide reading and related activities to the children.

On weekends when I am not there, other volunteers, graciously organized by the Barbados Virtual Roaring Lions Club, step in. We have had sessions on traditional Bajan kites, culture and history, movement and dance, and ALWAYS we have stories.

And this is about stories. This is about how stories can engage children's minds boosting literacy, curiosity, creativity and a host of other skills. Each week we try to create themes around a book or books--generally reading two stories per week. We then research and locate activity pages or colouring pages that suit the theme. If we do it right we have something for a wide range of ages as we tend to have Story Timers ranging in age from 3 to 14 some weeks.

And some weeks? It's an extra day at the library for a school visit. Or some teenagers who were tasked with bringing a younger cousin or sibling, so we need to find ways to engage them as well.

But stories are how we communicate, learn and grow as humans and as a community. Below you will find some of my tips on reading with your children!

#1: Get Comfortable!
If we have several kids, it's useful to be able to sit on a chair higher than the children which better enables them to all see the pictures. Really large groups we might use chairs instead of the mat, but honestly? The mat creates a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. We are also fortunate that we have some fun stuffed toys and cushions the kids can bring to the mat to get comfortable as seen in the photo on the right where we all stretched out where we could see the book. This works well with slightly smaller groups.
#2: Practice Reading Sideways or Upsidedown!
With a group, you won't always be snuggled in with the person you're reading to as there are too many of them so you will need to develop skills like reading upside down so they can enjoy the pictures. Depending on the resources available, you might be able to put the pictures and story on the TV screen using a smart TV and logging into Kindle or another eReader program so you can sit on the floor with the kids and read the book while looking straight at it.
#3: DO THE VOICES!!!
I shouted this one because, to me, this is the most important. Voice modulation when reading helps engage children whose attention may wander. If the character in the book whispers--lower your voice. If the character in the book cries--add some fake sobbing or sniffles. If the bad guy (or gal) is speaking--create a sinister voice. Play with accents. Practice when the kids aren't around. You'll find story time goes much smoother and gets a broader response from this.
#4: Pick Stories Appropriate for the Age Range
Smaller children like rhyming stories with lots of repetition or sound effects they can add in and join along. Older children may appreciate stories based on history or something they are studying, but in a fun way like a mystery or an adventure. And of course, if it's bedtime and not mid day, pick quieter books that will help settle the little ones down.
#5: Be Prepared for Questions and Don't Discourage Kids
We can remind children to put their hand up or wait for a pause instead of interrupting, but do not ignore a valid question. If it's a doozy and you need time to formulate an answer say, "Let's look that up on Google when we finish the story, okay?" And it's perfectly okay to admit you don't have an answer but will look for one. That's what libraries are for after all!
#6: Enjoy Yourself and Put Yourself in Their Shoes
It may embarrass a Very Patient Dave when I say I identify as a five-year-old, but it comes in very handing when figuring out how the children you are reading to  think.
#7: Extra Activities
It's not hard to find colouring pages to download from various sites like this one (Look under the "Fun Stuff" heading) or sites like https://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages and more. Younger kids love the colouring pages, and older kids are often engaged as well, finding it relaxing. 
You can also find alternate activities for older kids like word search puzzles, crossword puzzles, hidden pictures, or fact sheets.

I have been on the hunt recently for other ways I can help young parents connect their children with reading from an early age and I've found some products that I absolutely LOVE and that will help promote these learning goals for your children!

Of course, to be above board, I must disclose that as an Amazon Associate, I will earn from qualifying purchases made through the links attached.

​The important part is your child's success with reading can hinge on you and your involvement with them and the reading process. Playing games is a fun way to learn and to interact with your child. Set aside a game time each day to work on basic skills!

The Spin-and-Read Phonics toy above is a good blend of visual cues and tactile, hands on retention cues. The letter blocks are wooden and it comes with a great little bag to contain it. Pack and go with this easily portable learning game that is certified non-toxic and kid-safe.

This wooden spelling game above has over 50 flashcards and a puzzle style format where vowels and consonants are colour coded. Can be played in numerous ways as your child learns and grows.

As with the Spin-and-Read Phonics toy, this game comes with wooden pieces and a travel bag for ease of packing for learning fun on the go. Multiple ways you can play this one and has separate square pegs for even numbers versus round pegs for odd numbers to help reinforce more abstract math concepts. A great way to start your child with counting and basic addition and subtraction. While not specifically aimed at reading, numeric literacy is important as well and I love the various ways this can be used.

Positively overjoyed with these disappearing ink copy books. Comes with refills of the disappearing ink, so you can reuse again and again. Helps with writing letters, numbers, and also has a "drawing" book to add some fun to the mix when the work is done! Helps reinforce correct formation of letters and numbers by providing clear instructions and some samples to trace. The thick paper is durable for multiple uses as well!

How about using their love of science to get them reading and working on something? For some kids its about finding out, not just enjoying a story. This kit, which is available in a 140 project or 420 project configurations, comes with some detailed tutorials and cards to help them explore circuitry. While advertised as ages 3 to 12, I feel this is most appropriate at the 5 to 9 age range but as all children advance and develop differently, it's never too early to start your budding mad scientist!

For those on a more limited budget, similar activities can easily been produced at home using various materials that you would readily have at hand, as well as simple dollar store finds.

Never underestimate the power of a pair of dice to help with addition and subtraction, as well as counting. Alphabet and number magnets that my mom had on the fridge when I was small were an easy way for mom to juggle various tasks in the kitchen while supervising and correcting spelling or phonics and she passed them on to my kids when they were little.

Other facets of learning that are important include developing fine motor skills. Wooden blocks, Lego, or balancing toys and games are great for developing these sorts of things.

Hand and eye coordination? Recently we ran a coconut shie at the library during reading time. The kids were given targets of recycled bottles, boxes, and containers to knock over using balled up socks. Nothing breakable, lots of fun, and in just a few rounds you could see changes in how each child approached their aiming and throwing of the socks.

Remember, play is a way of learning and should never be underestimated. I encourage you all to get down on the floor with your littles and start learning all over again.
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