Storytime and Mindfulness
This is a guest post from Erin Haneham, Certified Kids Yoga Instructor and Drama Teach Artist based in Durham, NC.
Does your bedtime routine include storytime? It’s a simple, consistent way to keep bedtime calm and connected. Liz talks more about why that’s important on the blog here.
Today, I want to dive deeper into getting the most out of storytime.
For you and your child.
Stories transport us to worlds beyond our bedroom walls. They can take us on ships across the ocean or into magical forests. Their endings can be reassuring and comforting - their surprises joyful and silly.
At its best, storytime allows us to slow our bodies down, turn off our thinking brain and tune into the delights around us.
This, my friend, is mindfulness.
Mindfulness is paying attention on purpose.
Yoga practitioners use mindfulness to calm the nervous system and to find presence in a busy world. Actors use mindfulness (although they may not use that word) to tell stories that are engaging and authentic.
I am a yoga teacher and a drama teacher. I teach children how to stand tall, find their own voice, and feel confident in their body. So I feel uniquely positioned to help you make storytime as impactful as possible.
Yes - I do all the voices (and accents) when I read Peppa Pig. But that’s not exactly what I want to talk about today.
Here are my top tips for getting the most out of bedtime stories:
Slow Down - Bedtime can sometimes feel like a sh*tshow. Trust me. I know. I’ve wrangled PJs onto a toddler when they’re overtired just like you have. But my challenge to you when it comes to storytime is to slow down. Speak slower than you think you should when you’re reading aloud (like when you’re giving a presentation). Notice your breath and try to lengthen your inhale and elongate your exhale. Try your best not to think about what time it is. Trust that you’ve got all the time you need to slow down in this moment.
Use What the Author Has Given You - This tip comes straight from my theatrical experience. We can assume that most authors have intentionally chosen the words in their story - they are trying to give you tools that will assist in your storytelling. And there are a LOT of books available that are meant specifically for bedtime. Every “hush” or “shhh” or “sleep tight” is meant for you to milk it. All the repetition and rhyme and rhythm is for you to rock and sway and snuggle to. Use what the author has given you - lean into it.
Approach the Story Like It’s The First Time You’ve Heard It - Listen. I know you’ve read Goodnight Moon literally 1,000 times, but can you find something new that sparks your curiosity? Can you pretend it’s the first time you’ve heard it? This is where mindfulness and performance interest. A mindfulness practitioner works to have a “beginners mind” in everything that they do - allowing them to experience joy and wonder, and practice being present. An actor has to perform every single night as if it’s the first time they’ve uttered their lines so that the audience believes them. An easy way to practice this at bedtime is to challenge yourself to find something new in each illustration.
And please know that no matter how bedtime goes, the time you spend connecting with your child before bed is so, so important.
Break a Leg ;)
Wishing you well!
Love,
Erin
My Favorite Bedtime Books:
Goodnight Moon - It’s a classic for a reason.
The Big Red Barn - Margaret Wise Brown, the author of Goodnight Moon, nails it again with this sweet, simple story that gently rocks readers to sleep. The illustrations are bright, beautiful and cozy. My MIL read this one to my partner when he was a child. Sidebar: This fantastic picture book about Margaret Wise Brown deserves a place on your bookshelf.
Little Owl’s Night - A delightful journey through the night forest with a sweet, tiny owl friend. The poetry of this book is perfect for nighttime reading. We received this book as a hand me down, and I am so grateful.
All the World - Gorgeous illustrations accompany a story that at its root reminds us that we are all connected. The poetry of this book also perfectly complements the bedtime routine (and holds a special place in my heart as it was gifted to us by a family member).
Owl Moon - Another gift from a dear friend who knows her ish when it comes to books. Owl Moon is a touching story about the connection between parent and child, and has breathtaking illustrations of the natural world.
About Erin
Erin Hanehan is a Certified Kids Yoga Instructor and Drama Teaching Artist based in Durham, NC. She has a BA in Dramatic Arts from UNC Chapel Hill and completed her kids yoga and mindfulness certification with Growga. Erin has taught all kinds of things—from cooking classes to improv—to students of all ages, but she is most passionate about working with preK and early elementary students. Driven by a mission to help all children stand tall, find their own voice and feel confident in their bodies, Erin currently teaches at Our PlayHouse Preschool, online with Whole Mama Yoga and in-person with Raleigh Little Theater and Jewish for Good. She also works part-time as the PR Manager for Little Dipper Sleep.
Erin shares her life with her son, Nathan, her partner, Matt, her dog, Olive, and her chickens, Chip & Jo.