Playing with Stories: Using Books to Inspire Play
Books helped me discover my playful side, a side that once didn't come naturally. To be perfectly honest, not only did I not feel playful but I also had postpartum depression.
So I did what I always do when I need inspiration: I turned to books. And since I had a child, I of course turned to children's books and I read them out loud to my daughter. To my surprise I found that reading children's books aloud sparked my playfulness! At first it was just the way I read aloud-in a playful manner, reading silly books and enjoying my daughter鈥檚 response.
Over time I began to use each book as a jumping off point, a path to more play and learning with my daughter. The books inspired ideas for playful activities such as art, crafts, dress-up, doll play, playdough, puppets, scavenger hunts, science experiments, stamping, and storytelling boards.
Here are some ways I've used books for play with children. You can try these or come up with your own.
Books and play activities
Color and Counting Books
- Favorite titles:听Ten Little Fish听by Audrey Wood and听Go Away, Big Green Monster听by Ed Emberley
- Play activities: counting objects around the house, crafts, playdough, stamping
- More ideas:听
Rhyming Books
- Favorite titles: any book by Sandra Boynton
- Play activities: crafts, playdough, puppets, storytelling board
- More ideas:听听and听
Nature Books
- Favorite titles:听In the Small, Small Pond听by Denise Fleming and听Birds听by Kevin Henkes
- Play activities: crafts, scavenger hunts, science experiments
- More ideas:听
Silly Books
- Favorite titles:听Don鈥檛 Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late听by Mo Willems and听Will You Be My Friend听by Peter Brown
- Play activities: crafts, dress-up, playdough, puppets
- More ideas:听
Job Books
- Favorite titles:听Iggy Peck, Architect听by Andrea Beaty and听Even Firefighters Go to the Potty听by Wendy Wax and Naomi Wax
- Play activities: crafts, dress-up, dolls, puppets
- More ideas:听听and听
Fantasy Books
- Favorite titles:听Pinkalicious听by Victoria Kann and听Chalk听by Bill Thomson
- Play activities: puppets, play scenes, paper dolls, play kits
- More ideas: T听and听
I broke up the long days at home with my babies with regular trips to the library. We became regulars at several different library story times. Each visit meant more books to read at home. Each book meant more ideas for play.
In the same way, you can add to your book collection with trips to the library. Find lots of different types of books. Perhaps start with the titles listed above. Then, as you read with your child, keep play in mind. What playful activity will you do after you finish reading each book?
Melissa Taylor is a teacher, mom,听,听, and author of听.