To understand whether a child truly enjoys the listening process, it is worth observing not only their silence but also their active reactions. Interest is expressed through emotional and intellectual engagement.
Here are the main signs that the child is interested:
1. Behavioral signs (non-verbal)
“Freezing”: The child stops their activity (play, fussing) to listen.
Eye contact: They look at you when you read or carefully examine the illustrations, trying to find what you just mentioned.
Change in facial expressions: Laughter at funny moments, wide-open eyes in surprise, or a tense look during anxious parts of the story.
Tactile contact: The child moves closer to you, rests their head on your shoulder, or tries to hold the book themselves.
2. Intellectual signs (verbal)
Questions during reading: If the child interrupts with questions like “Why did he do that?” or “What is he holding there?” — this is the best signal. They are not just listening but analyzing.
Requesting “Again!”: Wanting to listen to the same story 10 times in a row shows the child is experiencing the story emotionally and it is close to them.
Predicting: The child tries to guess what will happen next (“He’s going to run away now, right?”).
Using words from the story: You notice that in games or conversations the child uses phrases or names of the characters.
How to check interest if the child is passive?
If the child sits quietly, it does not always mean engagement — they might just be “daydreaming.” To check this, try:
“Adult’s mistake”: Intentionally change a well-known detail (for example: “...and then the Kolobok ate the Fox”). If the child corrects you — they are attentively following the plot.
Discussing emotions: Ask: “Do you think the fox is sad now or is she cunning?” If the child gives a detailed answer, they are interested in the inner world of the characters.
Stopping at the climax: Interrupt reading at the most exciting moment under the pretext of “something to do.” If the child demands to continue immediately — interest is 100%.
What to do if the child does NOT like it? We will talk about this topic in the next article.
