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When Morgan and I began reading stories together virtually almost six years ago, it was one of the most delightful experiences ever. Hearing her little voice on the phone asking “Amma can you read me a story?” was an invitation to shared experiences, shared memories, to relationship! And oh it is so much fun! One of the most asked questions from long distance grandparents is “What’s the best way to read stories to my long distance grandkids?” We’re going to share some tips and best practices, along with a list of the best apps for reading to grandchildren you may not know you have!
Before the Call Checklist
Choose your book.
I used to text a picture with several books in it, and Morgan would then select a book from Amma’s library. You could also take a trip to your local library and check out several books that fit their age and interest. It’s affordable and keeps your selection of titles fresh!
To make it even more exciting, consider using one of the best apps (below) for reading to grandchildren to help you gather a selection and present your book options.
Looking for books for your own reading time? Check out these 8 Books on Grandparenting You Should Add to Cart!
Make sure the title is age appropriate.
Younger grandkids will be more engaged with titles that include large engaging illustrations. Chapter books are great for older kids!
Test Your Equipment
Make sure your device (phone, table, computer) is charged and that you are in a space with reliable internet.
Make sure your camera and microphone are working. We’ll lose our grandkids quickly to any technical difficulties that arise.
Set Up Your Space
Choose an area that is quiet and has relatively little background competition. I like to believe I’m pretty fun, but there are days I can’t begin to compete with the excitement that may be going on behind me.
Make sure your image is clear on the screen and that any light source is in front of you, not behind you. You don’t want to be a mysterious silhouette!
During the Call
After giving them a warm greeting, spend a bit of time asking how they are doing and what has been happening in their day. Then move to showing them the book cover and ask if they are ready to read.
Make sure to position the book so that they can see the pictures and follow along.
Use different voices for different characters. Kids love this! Using different voices for different characters can make the experience fun, and can be done easily when you use some of the best apps for reading to grandchildren, which often include interactive features.
Take a moment to interject a few questions such as “What do you think will happen next?” Or ‘Oh wow, how would this make you feel?” I do this pretty sparingly, as we want to keep the story moving.
Keep it fun
Younger kids will love being cued to add their own animal sounds, or participate in any repetitive lines throughout the book. I know a grandma who even made little puppets to go along with one of her grandchild’s favorite stories. She mailed them to her, and her grandchild excitedly runs for those puppets when it’s story time.
Taking breaks is ok!
Choose a set amount of time, pages or chapters then don’t be afraid (or offended!) to adjust as necessary. Some days kids are ready to read for a long time, and other days it feels as if we get started and suddenly they are done.
After the Story Conversation Ideas
Enjoy a little discussion about their favorite parts of the story.
Talk about what they think might happen next.
Extend your time together.
Allow your grandchild to retell or ‘read’ the story back to you. (This is a really fun thing to record!)
Draw pictures that correspond with the story.
Act out a favorite part.
Send them on a scavenger hunt for items in their home that relate to the story.
Play Story Pictionary – each person chooses something from the story and draws it while the other guesses.
When Morgan and I first started reading virtually together, there weren’t a lot of options out there. While I truly believe that simply sharing a book over Facetime is still one of the best ways to read together, it’s fun to add in a few surprises. We’ve done research on the best apps for reading to grandchildren virtually and there are so many options, both free and subscription based. We will share a list here for you to explore with your grandkids in mind.
Apps for Reading with Grandkids
Zoog
This is my current paid subscription, and is great for younger grandkids. While it isn’t really a way to read ‘together’ it is a fun way to send a story to your grandkids. You just choose your story, hold your phones camera up to your face, then read the words on the screen and your image will be transformed into the characters in the story.
There are also little joke telling snippets, a news show, and templates for sharing memories. The kids think it is pretty funny to see Amma as different characters (yes – you may have to set aside your pride!), and they are able to watch the story repeatedly, and request what they would like to see next.
Storybird
This is a subscription site where writers can choose from thousands of illustrations and create their own picture books/stories. You could use Zoom or FaceTime to collaborate on a story together. The stories can be published and shared, and even printed. I tested out a free trial. Found it super intriguing and possiboy a good match for older grandkids who love writing.
Caribu
Great for reading and also includes interactive activities. I explored using the Caribu app when they first launched.
Epic!
My oldest granddaughter Morgan has access to Epic! through her school and loves it. It includes great titles, and has a lot of safety and parent tools. Books can be downloaded for reading later. It would be a great resource to use with screen sharing and a fun way for your grandkids to read to you. (They can also earn badges as they increase the number of books read!). Because Morgan is already using this program at school it is a great way for me to be a part of her world and naturally brings up great conversations.
Google Slides or PowerPoint
Are you a Google or PowerPoint expert, or would like to be? I can’t imagine a more fun way to develop my skills. Create slides with text, images and animations. Use family photos, or photos from places they recognize. Then share your screen during a video call. Affordable and fun!!
Canva
We have a subscription to Canva for work, but now I am learning that they have a ton of Story Templates ready for customization. One title that caught my eye was Sheila the Sheep Wont Go to Sleep! I will be changing ‘Sheila’ to my granddaughter ‘Kami’, downloading the story to my desktop and sharing it with her during a video call. I’m sure she will be able to relate!
Chatbooks
While primarily a photo scrapbook type site, I have used Chatbooks to create stories for my grandkids using family photos. When Morgan left for home following a weekend visit, I discovered her very favorite stuffy, Moxee the Dog, laying on our couch. Papa and I spent the next few days snapping pictures of Moxee in various places around our home, at our work and out and about. Then we created a Chatbook with the pics, added a story and sent Moxee back home along with her very own book – Moxee’s adventures at Amma’s.
Audible
Sometimes it just doesn’t work to read at the same time. A great way to continue to connect over stories is to use Audible. If your grandkids are older and you both have subscriptions, invite them to create a ‘book club’ with you. Choose a story, listen on your own, and then connect for a few minutes to discuss what is happening in the story, and what you think might happens next. I have a co-worker whose daughter connects with his mom-in-law a couple of times a month using Audible. It’s great when one of you is on the road! For younger grandkids, use a video call platform to connect while you listen, then share your screen and audio so you can both hear the story.
Google Docs
Google Docs would be great for real-time collaborative writing and storytelling. Great for grandkids who are a bit older and love writing and storytelling. If you both have google accounts, you could start with a virtual call to strategize your story, and then use Google Docs to take turns adding content. You can add encouraging comments along the way, then and enjoying a final book reading session!
AI
We can’t end without at least mentioning AI Story Time. While there are a lot of feelings regarding the use of AI, there are some pretty interesting options out there for creating memorable stories using AI. I did a free trial of an AI Storytime app to test it out, and had a ton of fun creating a story using my grandkids nicknames in a setting that matches where they live! Make sure to check the privacy policies of any AI storytelling apps!
Reading stories virtually can be a wonderful way to connect with your grandchildren, creating shared experiences despite the miles between you. By incorporating some of these tips and best practices, you can make your storytime chats engaging and fun. We hope you enjoy testing out some of these apps for reading to grandchildren. Happy reading!