The second piece to pique your child’s interest in reading, after you have already chosen a compelling story that drives the imagination wild, is to add a physical element beyond the reading: acting, drawing, creating, imagining, dreaming, and solving. Get the body and mind working together to reinvent the story, take the story a step further into the future, or consider the story or characters in another way. Make it come to life!
I promised to revisit each book from my top ten list and provide an activity to do just that.
The first wild and wonderous story we will look at is, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak – “And the wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws.”
Maurice Sendak is a visionary and provides the best stories for children to love and play with. Who doesn’t have a few wild things roaming about the house on occasion? Well, what are you waiting for? Let that wild rumpus start!
Activity: Act it out!
One of my favorite activities after reading a book is acting out the story, especially when the characters are as full of life as Max and the Wild Things. Perfect for a rainy day when children are feeling a bit unruly. Perfect for a sunny day when a body just needs to move and wiggle. Be fierce, be wild, and then when you have danced into a frenzy, stop.
Get ready for the wild rumpus by making your own Max or Wild Things masks. Create your own, or use a template or a more in-depth tutorial. We used scrap paper and art supplies we had lying about.
My 7 year old's wild thing.
Then act out the main parts of the story. This really speaks to what your child remembers about the story. Remember how comprehension is the single most important skill your child will need to learn? This is a fun way to practice! In order to act, you have to know the characters, the sequence, the context, and be able to connect with them enough to improvise a little.
My little ones’ favorite part to act out in this story is the wild rumpus. I love that it gives them the chance to let go with wild abandon, but then have the ability to stop! And to know that Max can always go home. There is a safety in knowing that no matter how much of a wild thing you might behave like, you can always return to your own room, a safe home, a hot meal, and loving parents.
And, who am I kidding? It is just plain fun!
So, go one now and roar your terrible roars…
and gnash your terrible teeth…
and roll your terrible eyes…
and show your terrible claws…
until Max said, “Stop!” and eventually it was time to sail away back home.
Have you seen my top ten list of fantasy books to encourage children to read yet? From that post, we will be delving into each book further with a fun activity in a fantasy book series. Learn just how crucial it is for children to be read to and be read books that spark the imagination. There are a lot of ideas to get you and your child started with fairies, gnomes, goblins, pirates, dragons, and even wild things.
Pingback: Families Create! April Wrap Up | living peacefully with children
Pingback: Small Appliance Closet | living peacefully with children
Pingback: Chalkboards | living peacefully with children
Pingback: Kitchen Shelves | living peacefully with children
Pingback: Under the Sea Bathroom | living peacefully with children
Makes me wish for a lazy, stay at home, rainy day!
Great post–great reminder.
Pingback: Tuesday Top Ten: reasons to bake with your children |
Pingback: Almost All the Truth - The SITS Girls
This is my favorite children’s book. What fun ideas to share it with your kids.
misssrobin recently posted..I Can Strengthen
What a wonderful way to spend a rainy day! Happy SITS Day!
Nicole @ Busy Mom in the Kitchen recently posted..Homeschool Giveaway!!! Ends Today, 8/10/2012
This is a wonderful thing to do on a rainy day! Dropping by from SITS!
Anne recently posted..Connect the Dots
What a fun idea!! We haven’t read this or seen the movie but acting out their favorite books sounds like an awesome idea for a raining day!!
Visiting from SITS!! =)
Anna Hettick recently posted..You Capture | Things That Start With B
So much fun! We love this book in my house and I can’t wait to do this activity with my daughter. Thank you for sharing!!
Tricia recently posted..I am a Mom
Oh, what a great fun idea! By the way, Happy SITS Day, Brenna! xx
This is one of our favorite books…even before I had my very own Max who is a wild thing!
Love the creative ideas you shared!
Tara @ secretsofamomaholic.com recently posted..Healthy back to school lunch!
I LOVE this post! I am an elementary teacher so I love any thing to do with children’s books!!! So much fun!!!
Mindy @Road Runner Girl recently posted..Sweat Pink Blog Swap…Tiffany aka Running Hutch!
I use stories in my kids yoga classes, we act them out with yoga poses. Your post has got me thinking of putting this book to yoga.
Love the pictures too.
What a fun idea!
If those aren’t the most adorable little wild things! I love the masks.
Classic NYer recently posted..On an orange dress
Best idea EVER! :) I cannot wait to try this with my girls! Happy SITS day!
thedoseofreality recently posted..WOULD I PAY MONEY FOR THIS: Being Crafty + GIVEAWAY!
{Melinda} What a great idea! You ARE so right about comprehension. Mine are 15 and 12 now and being able to remember and follow concepts and information just gets more and more important as they get older. What a fun way to instill that at an early age!
Happy SITS Day!
Mothering From Scratch recently posted..the write way to talk to your daughter
Love this. Always one of my favorite kids books. Happy SITS day!
How fun! Acting out books was a favorite thing to do when I was a kind. It was so much fun! Looks like your kiddos had a blast.
Lauren recently posted..For the Love of Fish!
I absolutely LOVED this book when I was young. What a fun activity for your children and a wonderful way to keep them creative! Hope you have a great SITS Day today!
Jennifer Leigh recently posted..Brock & Carolyn {Virginia Beach Maternity Portraits}
Thank you, Jennifer! :)
Love the idea, adore the photos!
Lisa Rae @ smacksy recently posted..Frequently Asked Questions
I love this post. I have so many favorite books that I read to my children. I have a grandma box of them that I’m starting to share with my granddaughter.
My favorite fantasy book is There’s no Such Thing as a Dragon by Jack Kent.
I’m off to read some more.
Sheila Skillingstead recently posted..Fear: Spiders
SO CUTE! what a great idea. I can’t wait to do stuff like this with my son. I already read to him constantly because I’m determined to turn him into a reader :)
Happy SITS day! :)
Mo @ The Baby Is Fine recently posted..Loser No Longer!
Thanks! We need more readers in this world! :)
Happy SITS day!
I love this book, and find myself buying all my old favorite childrens’ books for my son. He loves being read to and is starting to point out things he recognizes. You are very right about the crucial importance of reading to our little ones!
Angela @ Hello Dahrlin’ recently posted..Super Fast Skillet Kielbasa with Rice
Thanks, Angela! Good for you for reading to your little one! I love looking at old favorites through their eyes. Such a different perspective!
Excellent! Being a teacher I wish I had more parents like you!
Laura recently posted..Enjoying our time in Maine
What a kind comment!
Hello from St. Louie! What a creative idea! I love it. Looking forward to reading more of your clever adventures with your kiddos. Happy SITS Day to you!
Thank you, Andrea!
Happy SITS day (yesterday)! I’m running a bit behind, but I just LOVE this post .I adore my little Wild Things and read them a lot of fantasy. I’m going to go check out your list!
Jester Queen recently posted..The Girl Under The Road
Love it!! My son’s name is Max, think it’s probably because I love that book! It would be fun to do “chicken soup with rice” party too to keep the Sendak theme going!
Shell recently posted..Happy SITS day to me!
Great post to promote literacy in your kids! I wish all parents would do this to help prompt interest in books! Thanks!
Simone recently posted..OHP: Back to School
Thanks, Simone! I do believe that books are so important for children and hope more and more parents will introduce a love of books early on!