Veronika will not sit still for storytime, despite enticements like forts and cozy nooks; if your one-year-old is anything like mine, then you probably end up reading a book out loud while he or she scoots off to play!

So I’ve been looking for creative ways to weave storyteling into our day; it’s been a fantastic reminder that stories aren’t just in book. There is oral storytelling, too.

Take a day and practice using the moments around you as prompts for stories. Chances are you have lots of them stored in your memory, of things that have happened to you, whether factual or embellished. The more you dig, the easier this activity gets.

For example, the rain this morning had me remembering the time I ran through the streets of a French town in a warm summer rain to make it back to my hotel.

I told her the story as we drove, and she soon was babbling back. The point isn’t for your baby to understand the words, but to share these experiences and practice listening to language.

At the library, we paused before a mini diorama. I could use this to start a make-believe story of what was happening in the room… and also tell her the story of how I remembered looking at the same diorama as a little girl.

Quilts have stories that will stir your memories…

….and toys have stories that will stir your memories. How about that time I had a party at a pizza parlor when I was six!

In fact after a day of consciously doing this activity I loved it so much that I hope to make it a ritual as we drive in the car!

I’m an extreme early bird, and yet even I want to pull the covers over my head sometimes on cold mornings when my kids are up before sunrise. Those covers sure look inviting for just a little extra snuggle time!

But I want to start the day on the right foot for my little ones, so I have a few tricks to make sunrise special. These little routines not only help me wake up, but also help them start the day on the proverbial right side of the bed.

Step 1: Open the curtains. Let in the light, even if it’s a tiny bit! Watch the light change from deep blue to pale gray, until pink and orange are in the sky. Plus, curtains are fun; Veronika never tires of running her hands up and down the slats, so that has become part of our morning ritual.

Step 2: Have a dance party. You can’t go wrong with a light-up speaker and music while mommy puts in her contact lenses.

Step 3: Listen to a sunrise chant. Tune in to a beautiful Native American sunrise prayer on YouTube and have these sounds in the background as the room moves from dark to light.

Step 4: Have a special breakfast. “Special” doesn’t mean a complicated recipe (here’s Veronika having some almond milk yogurt and waffles); it just means sitting down together and taking a pause, even when you have to get everyone dressed and ready for the day.

Step 5: Get moving! If it’s warm enough, go outside for a stroll. If it’s cold, be silly and have a sunrise stroll indoors!

Older kids may also love reading stories or myths about the sun, which you can weave into breakfast time.

How do you make sunrise special? Please share in the comments!