Story time and the promotion of reading interest in pre-school age - case study

This study aims to assess the impact of story time animation activities on promoting interest in reading at preschool age. The study was conducted with 20 children, aged between five and six years old, in a kindergarten in north Portugal, through a qualitative methodology with data collection by observation records and diary studies. The results suggest that the systematic implementation of storytelling activities promotes reading interest in preschool-aged children. Additionally, the use of pedagogical devices during storytelling appears to enhance children's indicators of participation, comprehension, and motivation. The diversity of strategies and the use of resources seem to impact motivation and children's willingness to engage in reading activities. Similarly, the results seem to highlight the significance of the educator as a reading mediator in selecting literary texts, defining diverse strategies, and constructing and utilising pedagogical resources to animate storytelling and foster interest in books and reading.