I often reference storywalking when I come across a book that I think is above Bug’s current comprehension level. It could also be that the text is too long for him. Either of these reasons does not mean you should put the book away and not read it with your little one. Exposure to text and books above our current reading level is how we improve. However, forcing someone to sit there and listen to something they don’t want to hear is the surest way to discourage a love of reading. Solution: Storywalking! You can adjust the level of detail you go into on each page based on your child’s skill level and attention span (that can vary day to day and hour to hour, as every parent knows). So what is storywalking and how do you start? Here’s a few main points on how to get started:
When you turn a page let your child have a moment to observe what they’re seeing. I usually count to five very slowly in my head. Otherwise I’m tempted to just jump straight in.
It’s important to remember that peppering little ones with questions can lead to distraction and will easily encourage kids to find something else to do. If someone was always asking me what color everything is that would make me annoyed. Instead try making short observations about the pages. “Oh, I see a white dog. He’s all alone. I wonder if he has any friends?” Or “Oh, there’s a black cat. The cat looks sad. See his tears?” Eventually your child will begin making these observations themselves, mirroring your example.
You can use the observations you make to tell the story at your child’s level. Then as they grow the story can grow with them. Enjoy storywalking!
