A MOMENT FOR IMAGINATION
Read, colour and imagine together
A book, a few pencils and a little time together. Here are five simple ways to let a story continue beyond its pages.
Stormvale PublishingLet your child choose where to begin
Start with a cover or picture that raises questions. What could be behind the castle? Where are the puppies going? You do not need to agree on the answers.
Pause at a picture
When reading aloud, pause to explore an illustration together. Talk about a detail, a character or what might happen next. Follow your child’s curiosity and continue reading when it feels right.
Give the story your own colours
After reading, your child could draw a place of their own or choose a colouring picture with a similar theme. The sky can be green and the dragon purple. This is an invitation to imagine, not an exercise with a correct answer.
Invent another adventure
Choose a character in the picture and give it a name. What does it want to do today? Take turns adding a sentence. With younger children, you could simply talk about colours, animals or familiar objects.
Let the moment find its own length
Follow your child’s interest and finish when it feels right. A short moment can be enough. Save the picture or bookmark and pick up where you left off another time.
