Teddy's Bedtime Story

from 18 months · 5 min · Quiet & calm

What you need

Sit beside them on floor cushions and wrap Teddy in his own small blanket, away from them.
Start Teddy's story in a soft, sing-song voice: "Once upon a time, there was a little bear..."
Stop and whisper, "Teddy would like a story."
Lie back yourself beside them and listen, saying "Oh!" or "Really?" in the pauses.
Finish together with "Night night, Teddy."

A teddy is the easiest audience there is, and telling it a story at bedtime is a reason to try the up-and-down voice they hear from you every night.

Story voice: Copying the rise and fall of a bedtime story voice, with or without real words.
Pretend play: Talking to a teddy as if it is listening to every word.
Winding down: A quiet job to do just before their own story.

Listen for their voice going high and low, or dropping to a whisper, as they talk to Teddy.

Babble is a story too. Reply as if you followed every word, and keep the lights low so the voices stay soft.

Easier: tell most of the story yourself and leave a gap for them to add a sound, like the bear's big yawn

Harder: bring a second toy, so the story has two animals in it