Story Time is that magical time of fun and learning whether you are reading to 25 kindergartners, 16 preschoolers, or just one child. You are going on an adventure together.
The really amazing part of the adventure is that each journey is still individual. Each child and adult comes away with a different experience even though they are reading the same story. I can hear the teachers out there right now going, “No, no, no, Colleen, I have planned exactly what I want my students to get from this story.” The parent is saying, “The back said I could teach my child how to apologize using this story.” Do you know for sure that your child identified with the character who learned to apologize or did they identify with the character who were being apologized to?
We all bring our own perspectives to a story. Yes, children have their own perspectives too. I know they have only been around a short time but they have done a lot of living in that time. They also haven’t built up as many filters and assumptions that, we, as adults, have in our perspectives. Kids have quite the fresh perspectives.
Listen to the children or child you are reading to. Let them tell the story to you in their way. You will learn what they are taking away from it. Don’t be surprised if all the children are not seeing the story’s message in the same light. Remember, the child and/or children are not wrong, just different.
Have a little fun, learning a little about your child’s or children’s perspectives. It is all in the journey.