Read and Play - Turning Books into Interactive Games

By introducing a few simple games inspired by your child’s favourite stories, you can turn reading time into an exciting adventure that brings those stories to life in a whole new way!

And the benefits can far outweigh the effort:

• Enhanced Engagement: Reluctant readers are more likely to engage with books when they can play games related to the story.

• Improved Retention: Playing games can help reluctant readers remember story details, characters, and ideas more easily.

• Increased Motivation:  Playing fun games can encourage reluctant readers to read more and try new books.

• Boosted Creativity: Games can spark creativity, boosting a reluctant reader’s imagination and interest in stories.

• Social Skills Development: Games can help reluctant readers improve their communication and teamwork skills, especially in groups.

Kids Carousel

Playing interactive games together as a family can turn story time into a joyous, shared adventure. It’s a great way to bond, laugh, and create lasting memories while exploring books in a fun and engaging way.

Five fun ideas for you to try at home:

• Story Scavenger Hunt: Make a list of items or themes from the book (like ‘find something red like the dragon’s tail’ or ‘find an object that represents the hero’s journey’). Hide these items around the house or garden and let your child search for them while chatting about how they connect to the story.

  This will encourage your reluctant reader to pay more attention to details in the book.

• Character Charades: Select characters from the book and act out their scenes or traits without speaking. Everyone else can guess who you're being and what part of the story you're representing.

  This will encourage your reluctant readers to think more deeply about the characters and their actions.

• Story Dice: Make dice with different story elements or characters on each side. Roll the dice and use the results to craft a new story or scene inspired by the book. You can create your own dice or find printable templates online.

  This will encourage creativity and help your reluctant reader grasp story structure by letting them create their own narratives.

• Book Bingo: Create a bingo card with reading-related tasks or themes from the book (such as ‘find a magical object’ or ‘a character learns something new’). As you read, check off the tasks that fit the story.

  This will keep your reluctant reader engaged with the story while adding a fun, playful element to reading.

• Scene Reconstruction: Choose a favourite scene from the book and use household items or toys to recreate it. You can act out the scene together or take photos to make a mini digital scrapbook of the story.

  This can help reluctant readers to picture and remember key scenes from the book, making the story come alive through a fun, hands-on activity.

Call to Action

This week’s call to action is all about choosing games you feel your reluctant reader is most likely to participate in and enjoy.

Remember to theme them around their favourite characters, movies, or hobbies as that will ensure they are more appealing.

Happy is playing.

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