Book Logo Social-Emotional Learning icon.

Social-Emotional Learning

Materials:

Purple flower

A favorite book

Optional: Dress-up clothes, stuffed animals, or household items as props

Your Child Will Learn

How to engage in play with others.

family-storytime-play

Family Storytime Play

Here's What To Do

1

Have your child choose a book to act out or create a new story as a family.

2

Let each family member choose a character or part of the story to act out.

3

Now it's time to act it out. Use voices, movements, and props to bring the story to life. Encourage your child to add their own ideas!

4

Switch characters and act out the story again.

Mother and child play together (animated).

Put PEER Into Action

P

Pause:

  • Put away all distractions and have your child gather the family.
E

Engage:

  • "What do you think should happen next in our story?"
  • “What kinds of props or costumes could we use to help act out our story?”
E

Encourage:

  • "You are doing a good job using your imagination to tell the story!"
  • "It’s okay to be silly, let’s have fun playing together!"
R

Reflect:

  • "What was your favorite part of our story play?"

Not quite ready?

Start by reading the story together and acting out small parts with gestures and simple movements.

Ready for more?

Let your child lead the story, making up their own adventure for the family to act out as you role play together..

Variable color muffin tins (animated)

As your child masters this skill...

They will engage in self-initiated play with others while using their imagination to express ideas.

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