4 Storytime Mistakes Parents Make (and How to Fix Them With Play)

Storytime is one of the most powerful ways to support your child’s early learning. Did you know the way you read with your child can be just as important as what you read? Small tweaks in storytime routines can double language growth, boost attention, and turn books into back-and-forth play.

The good news? With a few simple shifts, storytime can become the highlight of your day — a playful, cozy ritual that sparks imagination and builds language. Here are four common mistakes parents make at storytime — and how to turn them into opportunities for learning.

Mistake #1: Doing All the Talking

When parents read straight through a book without pausing, children become passive listeners. Research shows that interactive reading can double a child’s vocabulary growth compared to traditional storytime.

👉 Do Instead:

• Pause often to ask open-ended questions. (“Where do you think the dog is going?”)
• Invite your child to point, guess, or make predictions.
• Follow their curiosity, even if it takes you off-script.

When storytime feels like a back-and-forth conversation, children learn more — and enjoy it more.

Mistake #2: Skipping Repetition

It may feel tedious to re-read The Wheels on the Bus for the tenth time, but repetition is how toddlers master language. Kids often need to hear a new word dozens of times in different contexts before it sticks. Repetition also builds memory and confidence.

👉 Do Instead:

• Lean into the re-reads, knowing each one is brain-building.
• Add variety by pausing for your child to “fill in the blank” or asking a new question each time.
• Remember: what feels old to you feels exciting and familiar to them.

Mistake #3: Driving the Reading

When parents control every page turn, kids may check out. Research shows that children stay engaged longer when they have choice and agency in their learning.

👉 Do Instead:

• Let your child pick the book.
• Hand over the page-turning, or let them linger on favorite pictures.
• Celebrate when they “read” a page back to you in their own words.

Ownership keeps kids motivated — and helps them see reading as play.

Mistake #4: Sticking Only to the Words on the Page

According to literacy research, children learn more when parents go “beyond the text” — connecting the story to real life, asking kids to imagine, or adding playful commentary.

👉 Do Instead:

• Connect story events to your child’s world (“This bear likes honey — what foods do you love?”).
• Act out parts of the book together.
• Add silly voices or sound effects to spark engagement.

Make Interactive Storytime Easy with Tappi

We know it’s not always easy to put all of this into practice — especially at the end of a long day. That’s why we designed Tappi: interactive, screen-free books that make playful, engaging storytime simple for families.

• Interactive reading made easy → Every picture is tap-to-play, so kids hear words, sounds, and songs that turn storytime into a conversation.
• Repetition built in → Children can replay their favorite parts endlessly, reinforcing new vocabulary without extra effort from you.
• Child-led exploration → With tap-to-play on every page, kids are in charge of what to hear and when, keeping them naturally engaged.
• Beyond the text → Every Tappi page has lots of tap-to-play elements, letting kids trigger sounds, songs, and voices that expand the story world. This makes it easy to spark imagination and build vocabulary — all while keeping storytime playful and interactive.

With Tappi, every tap brings the world to life — helping toddlers build vocabulary, imagination, and confidence while making storytime a moment you’ll both treasure.

👉 Ready to transform your family’s reading routine? Explore the Tappi Starter Set and see how interactive storytime can spark a love of learning, one tap at a time.