Reading from books and re-telling your own stories passed down through generations can spark imagination in children and encourage them to come up with their own adventures and dramatic play ideas.
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Radio Flyer. All opinions expressed are my own.
Storytelling is the perfect way to engage your child’s imagination and encourage them to create their own adventures through pretend play. I have seen many of our stories come to life over the years in the playroom and outside in the yard. Each time, I hear them repeating something that we’ve come up with together and enjoying the imaginative play that ensues once the story has ended.
When a child participates in pretend play it provides a key role in their development, enhancing their creativity and giving them a place to test out social and emotional scenarios. Utilizing unique storytelling techniques gives your child the encouragement they need to come up with their own ideas for pretend play and engage their imagination.
5 Creative Ways to Tell a Story
Use a Funny Voice
It’s often fun to re-tell or read a story using a funny voice. You could pretend to talk like a mouse or speak in a low or high tone, even change the speed of speaking. This is sure to get a good laugh from the kids and they will definitely be paying attention to what you are saying!
Let the Child Choose the Theme
Menucha from Moms and Crafters likes to let her child choose the theme to the story. The theme can be anything, and sometimes the sillier the better – once, he even chose “flat tires” as the theme!
Use Props or Puppets
Using finger puppets or props that go along with the story can really bring the story to life and helping the child visualize the plot.
Fill in the Blanks
I love this idea from Tove at Mama in the Now – she plays a little game while telling a story called fill in the blanks. Starting the story off with something like “once upon a time..” and pausing at key moments, give your child the opportunity to add to the story. This is great for event he little ones! Let them use their imagination to decide the outcome of the story with prompts like “there was a little boy named….”, “his favorite thing to do was….” and see where the story takes you.
Personalized Story Books
Personalized story books, like “My Radio Flyer Adventure” are a wonderful way to engage your child in reading and storytelling – the amazement they have when they see their name in print is classic!
Storytelling, imagination and outdoor play – values Radio Flyer has been committed to for 100 years! I can remember countless adventures as a child with my Radio Flyer wagon and I love that their company values outdoor and pretend play as both are important to me for my own children.
In celebration of their 100th anniversary, Radio Flyer has launched a fully customizable children’s book in collaboration with I See Me. The book, My Radio Flyer Adventure, allows you to choose the child’s name, hair color, skin tone, and Radio Flyer product in the story!
My daughter giggles with joy and amazement each time I read HER name in the story and immediately wants to head out to play with her Radio Flyer wagon and go on an imaginative adventure with her trusty sidekick, her dog, Ryder.
You can gift your child with their very own My Radio Flyer Adventure book, customized for them with their own name, with a special discount code.
25 Days of Holiday Giveaways
For 100 years, Radio Flyer has been powering play and inspiring imagination in kids of all ages. They are proud to be a timeless symbol of childhood imagination and has become the most loved brand for kids’ wheels in the world.
To commemorate this, Radio Flyer is hosting a special sweepstakes, 25 Days of Holiday Giveaways!
Visit the Radio Flyer 25 Days of Holiday Giveaways site, starting November 21 through December 15, to enter to win some amazing Radio Flyer gifts. Giveaway prizes include some of Radio Flyers most popular products, you do not want to miss out!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Radio Flyer. The opinions and text are all mine.
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