Important aspects of a good storytime

A good storytime rests on a handful of learnable techniques: age-appropriate books, a cozy distraction-free spot, an interactive reading voice (pitch, pace, pauses), a few storytelling extras like props and character voices, and a short conversation after the story. None of it needs talent; all of it can be practised.

I have written about why storytime matters so much for a child’s growth. This piece is the practical half: what actually makes a storytime fun, engaging and educative, and how a parent or educator can get there with a little time and effort.

Choose age-appropriate books

Select picture books or story books that fit your child’s age: not too complicated to understand, not so simple that they coast. Start from genres your child already likes, then branch out. (Unsure of the level? The five-finger check works for read-alouds too.)

Create a cozy reading environment

A comfortable corner, a specific time of day, and no distractions. Your undivided attention is half the magic; the phone in another room is a storytelling technique.

Make it interactive: your voice is the instrument

Use different tones, voices and expressions for different characters, and pull your child in with questions and predictions. The specifics are worth practising:

Pitch. A higher pitch for younger or smaller characters makes them light and youthful; a deeper tone gives older or authoritative characters their weight.

Pace. Slow down through suspenseful or emotional passages to build tension; speed up in the action scenes to carry the urgency.

Emphasis. Stress the words that matter, so the emotions and the story’s message land.

Pauses. A well-placed pause after a revelation gives the child a moment to absorb it, and builds delicious drama before the page turns.

Silence. Now and then, say nothing at all. A beat of silence after a big line can do more than any voice trick.

The same book, read flat or read well, is two different stories. The difference is entirely learnable.

Add the storyteller’s extras

• Character voices. Distinct voices help children distinguish and remember characters; a pitch change, a slight accent or a rhythm is enough.
• Face and body. Wide eyes, raised eyebrows, a tilted head; your face is a picture book of its own.
• Props. A toy or a picture can make the story tangible for young listeners.
• Questions mid-story. “What do you think happens next?” makes the child part of the telling.
• Repetition and rhythm. Children adore refrains; repeat the phrases the book repeats, with relish.
• Sensory description. Linger on what characters see, hear, smell, touch and taste; the scene builds itself in the child’s imagination.

Talk about the story afterwards

Discuss the book when it ends: what they liked, what they did not, what they would change about the ending, what the story taught them. This builds recall and language in the friendliest possible format, and it can grow into vocabulary games or a little creative writing when the mood allows. (This is the 3Vs routine wearing pyjamas.)

Make it regular, and let yourself practise

Storytime works best as a fixture: before bed, or a treasured free-moment ritual. And the reading itself improves with rehearsal. Read the story alone first to find the voices and pacing; record yourself once and listen back; ask your child occasionally what they liked best about how you told it, and what they want more or less of. Storytellers are made, not born, and your audience is forgiving.

With these voice and storytelling techniques in hand, the bedtime story becomes a more dynamic and memorable part of the day, for both of you. For the fully participatory version, see how to make story time interactive.

Dr. V.S. Gayathri is a Certified Dyslexia Therapist, an Orton-Gillingham trained literacy specialist, and the founder of Flourishing Kids. She has delivered over 4,000 hours of one-to-one reading and spelling intervention, helping children across multiple countries build stronger literacy skills. If storytime keeps stalling in your home, get in touch for a free 15-minute conversation.