Reading with your child can be one of the best parts of your day. It’s quiet time, bonding time, and learning time all in one. But sometimes, even the best stories need a little extra sparkle to keep your child excited and interested.
If your little explorer loves adventure stories like the ones in the Adventure Bundle, you’re in luck! Here are five fun and simple ways to make storytime even more exciting. These ideas are easy to try and don’t need fancy supplies. You’ll turn every book into a journey your child won’t want to miss.
One of the easiest ways to make a story fun is to use silly voices. Each character in the book can have their own sound. For example, maybe the brave lion has a deep voice, the tiny mouse talks fast and squeaky, and the old wizard has a slow, wobbly voice.
When you read with voices, you make the book feel like a cartoon or a play. Your child will laugh, pay attention, and even start to copy your voices. That’s great! It means they’re thinking about the characters and getting involved.
Let your child try voices too! Ask questions like, “What do you think the pirate sounds like?” or “Can you be the dragon in this part?” When they join in, they feel like part of the story. And stories are more fun when you’re in them.
Books don’t have to stay on the couch. Get up and move around! If the characters are running, run in place. If they’re sneaking, tiptoe across the room. If someone jumps over a river, pretend to jump too!
Moving during storytime helps your child stay focused and excited. It also helps kids who learn better by doing, not just by listening. When they act out the story, they remember it better. Plus, it’s great exercise and burns off energy—especially helpful before bedtime!
For example, if you’re reading a jungle adventure, you can crawl like tigers, swing like monkeys, or stomp like elephants. If you’re reading a pirate story, walk the plank or sail your imaginary ship. Movement brings the story to life.
Sound effects are super fun and easy to make. You can use your mouth, your hands, or even things around the house. Clapping can sound like thunder. Tapping a spoon on a bowl can be a knight’s footsteps. Crinkling paper sounds like walking through leaves.
Try adding simple background music with a phone or tablet. Play soft waves during an ocean story or jungle sounds during a safari book. You don’t need anything fancy—just something that adds to the story’s feel.
Ask your child to help. Say, “What sound does a dragon make?” or “Can you make the wind blow?” This helps them listen closely and feel like a part of the book’s world. When your child helps tell the story, they care about it more.
You might think your child needs to read words to join storytime—but they don’t! Even preschoolers can be part of the reading. Rhyming stories, like those in the Adventure Bundle, make this super easy.
Start by reading slowly and leaving out the last word in a sentence. For example, “The little bear was big and strong, he wandered the forest all day…” (pause) “Long!” your child might shout. They’ll guess the rhyme and feel proud.
You can also let them repeat short parts after you. This builds confidence and helps them learn word sounds. They’ll feel like real readers, even before they know all the letters.
If your child can read, let them take turns reading pages with you. If they’re nervous, you can whisper the words first and let them repeat. Reading together builds a love for books and helps them practice at the same time.
Costumes and props make any book more fun. You don’t need a costume shop—just use what you have! A towel can become a superhero cape. A spoon is a magic wand. A cardboard box can turn into a pirate ship or spaceship.
Before storytime, ask your child if they want to dress up. If the story has animals, maybe wear ears or tails made from paper. If the story has a king or queen, wear a paper crown.
You can even use toys as characters. Stuffed animals make great story helpers. Let your child act out the book using their toys. This turns reading into a full game of pretend play, which is great for learning and imagination.
When you turn reading into play, your child doesn’t just listen—they feel like they’re part of the story. That kind of fun makes them want to read again and again.
You don’t have to do all five ideas every time. Even one or two will make storytime more exciting. But the most important thing is to read every day—even for just 10 minutes.
Pick a regular time that works best. Maybe it’s before bed, after school, or right after breakfast. When your child knows storytime is coming, they’ll look forward to it. It becomes part of their routine—something cozy and fun to count on.
Try to let your child pick the book sometimes too. When kids choose, they feel more excited. If they love adventure books, keep a small “treasure chest” of them nearby. You can fill it with stories from the Adventure Bundle and other fun titles.
Storytime is about more than reading words. It’s a chance to laugh, learn, play, and explore together. When you make storytime more active, silly, and creative, your child learns to love books—and that love lasts forever.
Adventure stories are especially great because they already have action, mystery, and excitement. So the next time you open one, try using voices, acting it out, or building a fort. With just a few extra touches, your child will be excited to go on a new adventure every night—right from the comfort of your couch.
