Don’t Give Up Reading To Your Kid Just Yet — Here's How

If only reading a book to your preschooler is as easy as… reading a book. What could be a straightforward three-minute session easily stretches out to 30 dreadful minutes, either because your child keeps getting distracted or has an endless list of questions and requests.

Before you banish bedtime storytime, here’s a gentle reminder: That pre-snooze storytelling session with your kid is one of the best ways to stoke their love of reading and help them make sense of the world.

This is unanimously agreed upon by experts everywhere, including guests on Book Monsters Season 2, a podcast series by EtonHouse Community Fund Volunteers and Kiss92, supported by The Singapore Women’s Weekly.

On each episode, Kiss92 presenters, preschool educators and authors came together to discuss ways to liven up bedtime stories. While the first season put the spotlight on classic tales, season two switched things up with Sing-lit, providing even more ideas on how to expand your repertoire of stories and engagement styles. 

Here, we round up some of the best tips we have gleaned from the guests from season two that you can apply immediately.

Tip #1: Don’t underestimate the power of reading together

It can be difficult to measure the effectiveness of storytelling, especially with preschoolers’ notoriously short attention spans. However, perseverance will pay off, especially if you make these sessions relaxed and enjoyable. 

“My husband reads to our children almost every night because his mum used to read to him. It’s become one of those things that he just continued,” shares Esther Eio, a preschool educator, curriculum developer, author and storyteller, on episode two.

“So read to your child,” she adds. “You might be doing something for your future grandchildren without realising it.”

Tip #2: Pick a relatable book

You wouldn’t bore your kids with texts from scientific journals, but not all children’s books would hold their attention either. Esther recommends picking stories that allow you to connect with the target audience, aka your children. This could mean books that feature a familiar setting or relatable emotions such as fear or disappointment. “If you can’t find [a relatable connection], choose another book,” she says.

Tip #3: It doesn’t have to be fiction

We are accustomed to regaling children with fairy tales and Aesop’s fables, but there are many non-fictional books that are now tailored for a younger audience, with the use of simple language and vibrant illustrations. Take, for instance, the Our Amazing Pioneers series by Shawn Seah, which spotlights early and prominent migrants who made Singapore their home. In the book featuring plantation owner Seah Eu Chin, children learn about his determination to rise from failure even after his early crops failed to grow, as well as his generosity with the founding of philanthropic organisation Ngee Ann Kongsi.

“I hope the main takeaway for children is that we all have a part to play in shaping the future of our home Singapore, by laying on the foundation of those who came before us,” says Shawn, a descendant of Seah Eu Chin, in episode three.

Tip #4: Reading is a great way to help children process their feelings

Before you start listening to episode four, prepare your tissues. The featured book “My Daddy Is the Best!” is an ode to all fathers written by senior principal at EtonHouse Josephyne Ho. It was inspired by a kindergarten student who lost her father unexpectedly to cardiac arrest, Josephyne recalls with emotion. 

Books as such can be healing for children managing new and difficult feelings—and parents can lend a hand as the storyteller. “We can ask children about the feelings of the protagonist in each of the pages, and ask if they have felt this way before. We help to give a name to new feelings and help validate and normalise their experiences,” says Josephyne.

Catch all episodes of the podcast series Book Monsters Season 2 on Google Podcasts, Spotify or Awedio.