By Holly
Engel-Smothers
When you deem that your twins are
ready to participate, choose some of these fun games and giggles-and-grins
activities to make books--and your babies' world--come alive:
- Create
voices for the story characters, such as a low, "growl-y" voice for a wolf,
crocodile or fox; a high-pitched voice for a fairy; a squeaky voice for a
mouse.
- Pretend
to pick a favorite food from a picture of a picnic or breakfast table. Name
the food and pretend to eat it with gusto: "Yum! I love red strawberries!"
Ask your babies what food they want. They may attempt the word or simply
point. Respond with a short, simple sentence that includes the word: "Here
is your glass of milk. Drink it up!"
- Imitate
animal actions. Make a little inchworm with your finger. Make him crawl to
your babies and up their legs, and to their necks or bellies with a
tickle. Flap your arms for a bird. Pant for a dog. Jump for a bunny.
- Get
into the characters. For a giant, stomp your feet. For a chick or bird,
clap your pointer and thumb together to imitate a beak. Hop for a frog.
- Imitate
machines: "toot-toot" for a train, "buzz" for an airplane, a grumble for
construction vehicle engines.
- Vary
your pitch to signal opposites: high, low. Up, down. Off, on. In, out.
- Allow
your babies to turn pages or even hold the book. They may not let you
finish reading a page, but that is okay. Just tell the story that you
remember, or make it up for a story that is new.
- Make
the story come alive. When reading action words, get into the show! Jump,
clap, bite (pretending), stomp, and kick your legs out. Stick your thumb
in a pretend pie and pull it out dramatically. Tip your hat, brush your
hair.
- While
reading number books, show the numbers with your fingers. Try to
manipulate your twins' fingers to show the numbers, too.
- Some
books have puppets available to go along with the story. These are a
wonderful investment that you and your babies will use for years. Also
look for bath mitts that may go along with a favorite story or song.
- Explore
poetry. The rhyme, cadence, and sing-song tone are interesting for your
babies to listen to.
- Tickle
time. Laughter is the first step in developing a sense of humor. Watch for
silly stories or pictures to add a tickle for emphasis.
- Weave
books into your everyday activities. Pack some books in the diaper bag to
have on errands. Read a book about doctors before an appointment. Tie cloth
books onto the grocery cart. There are even waterproof books for the pool,
beach, or tub.
- Learn
some sign language for common pictures and actions. Consistently
demonstrate while reading. Soon your babies will begin to imitate you, and
before you know it they will be making the sign even before you do!
- Exaggerate.
Elongate and dramatize recurring phrases like "hippity-hop" or "round and
round." Cover your mouth with your hand when the character does something
naughty. Cheer when someone wins a race.
- Read
things in your babies' environment, such as traffic signs, food labels and
restaurant names.
Your little sweeties will want you to read books to them
more and more often. Indulge them with a
book. They will soon be begging for a
story rather than a trip to the pizza parlor!
[NOTE FROM SUSAN HEIM: This article is one of many from parent educator and
mom of twins (and a twingle), Holly Engel-Smothers, who will be sharing her
wisdom and expertise on the subject of reading through this "Literacy for All"
column, which will appear on a regular basis on TwinsTalk.]
