How to Read to Wiggly Children

I often overhear parents say, “I would like to read to my child more, but he/she (let’s face it, it is usually a he) just won’t sit still”.  As a former reading lady and mother of several wiggly children, I thought I would share some of the tricks that I use to read to wiggly children.

First, I start reading to my children long before they can escape (within days of birth). The earlier you start reading to your children, the more likely it is to seem like a regular daily activity like eating or bathing.

Be animated! Be silly! Make sound effects:
My husband gasping while reading “Two beetles gasped and ran away” from Miss Spider’s Tea Party: The Counting Book.

Alternate reading with an action song. When my son is wiggly, we follow  Miss Spider’s Tea Party: The Counting Book with the Itsy Bitsy Spider, then read The Very Busy Spider and follow it up with several rounds of Old McDonald’s Farm.

Engage Your Child. Ask them to point to pictures. Being willing to stop and discuss a picture or concept they find interesting:

My husband pauses to let my son count the tea cups. BTW, real men read stories about tea parties to their sons.

My husband reading to the children at dinner time.

My second oldest wiggle worm reading to my youngest wiggle worm.

How do you read to your wiggly children?

Disclosure: I have linked the books to amazon, where I am an affiliate, so you can read a description if you wish. However, I encourage you to check these books out at the library.