Action, Action, Kids Love Action!!!

As a child, I loved playing outside. Once homework was done, I ran outside to ride bikes and go-carts, skating, playing baseball in the street, four square, hop scotch, skipping, or just sitting on the lawn laughing and making clover necklaces. It's amazing we were never stung by bees. We played outside until the street lights came on, that was our signal to go inside for the night. Can you relate?

A few of my favorite playful action lines in Three Purple Frogs are:

Up the path we walked.

Up the path I skipped.

Up the path I hopped.

As I playfully and melodically read those lines, I actually want to walk, skip, and hop. Needless to say, I don't skip and hop like I used too. However, my greatest enjoyment is listening to children read those lines with emphasis on - walk, skip and hop. I love it!

At bedtime, I read Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes, Dr. Seuss, and many other stories to my children, which is probably why I write in rhymes. I would read the nursery rhyme as though I was the character. If the character laughed, I laughed, if the character was happy, I portrayed happy. My children watched my facial expressions as I animated the story, then I'd show them the picture - always show the picture. It was so cute as they mimmicked me while trying to read the lines themselves. They always wanted me to read more, and I did.

Wee Willie Winkie was the nursery rhyme that meant this is the last one. My children always gave a big sigh as I begin reading the Scottish nursery rhyme which personified sleep. Sometimes I believe they were only stalling sleeptime.

When you read the story, become the character, animate your facial expressions and voice, children will love it. Adding personality to a story will have your child wanting to hear the story again and again.

Make reading fun as you walk, skip, and hop together with Three Purple Frogs!