Chance to win a £200 voucher - check out the Storytime Sounds app from notonthehighstreet.com and share your storytelling experiences, tips and tales NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

To celebrate the latest addition to the iPhone Storytime Sounds app from the team at notonthehighstreet.com they'd love you to share your storytelling experiences, tips and tales on this thread.

They'd also love to hear your feedback on their app; it's available on iTunes - you can download it here: itunes.apple.com/gb/app/storytime-sounds/id883691199?mt=8

They say "our story time app is free to download and is designed to bring an extra element of fun to storytime for families with kids aged 3-7.

There are 6 soundboards for different storytelling themes - pirates, fairytales, lost world, space, monsters and our latest addition, Christmas"

So please share what storytelling means to you on this thread. Are you creative enough to make up your own bedtime story for your LO, do you do "funny" voices, when do you do storytelling with your child - bedtime or during the day? And do give the app a try if you can - notonthehighstreet.com would love to hear what you and your DC think of it (the new Christmas sounds in particular), how you used it and whether it made storytelling easier/more fun.

Please share your thoughts and feedback on this thread and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one lucky MNer will win a £200 voucher for notonthehighstreet.com. Please add your comment by 24 December. Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Good luck
MNHQ

PS They have also written a little story as a starting point for your storytelling adventures, which can be found here: blog.notonthehighstreet.com/2014/12/10/a-christmas-story/

Haven't used the app, but love storytime with my nieces and nephews. We have a few tried and tested stories that have been developed over the years but they love adding new bits in and using accents, silly voices, dress up cloths and accessories! Lots and lots of fun!

Storytelling isn't just for children. I work with vulnerable adults and listening to a story often helps them relax.
Tips:
1.Have a drink to hand-I often dry up after about 5 mins.
2.Pay attention to your tone of voice-don't sound bored.
3.Add 'real life'characters-a cameo appearance by Beyonce, Wayne Rooney or Bear Grylls can work wonders!

I loved storytelling with my twins - They aren't as keen now that they are 10, but still love it from time to time - especially with anything funny!

Give a different voice to each character - don't worry about getting the "right" voice, just make each one a little different - it makes the story much more fun!

I have always read at bedtime and as my son has got older, the format has changed somewhat. Now, he likes factual books, about how various things are built, such as rollercoasters and trains, and history books. When he was younger, he loved repetition and funny voices, and I used to have to read the same book a hundred times and remember all the voices! Not sure which I prefer, if I'm honest! The app really appeals to me, as a good way to encourage reading. I think it would be particularly useful on long bus journeys!

I love the starting point story on their blog... great choice of name! ;) (Mine's Maisie, too!)

I couldn't try the app, much as I would have loved to, as I don't have an iPhone, iPad or any other 'i' related product! It sounds good, though.

The only stories I remember being read to me as a child are the bible story books! Wah! lol

Despite that, I have a huge love of reading and so does the husband so we wanted to encourage a love of reading in our son by making sure he always has books in his room, taking him to the library, and reading with him. The first book my son ever laughed at was 'Dinosaurs Love Underpants', - (the laughs came from my awesome storytelling abilities, I reckon! ;) Such a happy and proud moment for me!) - a story I went on to memorise! I use that story to calm my son down at the end of the day when he's still a bit hyper and it's bedtime! Although my son doesn't sit still and read a book with me just yet, I still read to him whilst he's running around the room. He likes to look through books by himself aswell. I make up stories using the ducks at bath time, too.

I always give different characters different voices and try to make the story as entertaining as possible! I love reading kids stories out loud!

i personally dont allow phones, tablets or computers after 7pm when they go into the bath then read a book with us, i think we need to keep family time simple and not complicate it with technology xxx

We like to use our imagination, so we close our eyes and imagine ourselves in different places. We often start by sitting in a tree....

We both read, with obligatory character voices, but DP is the real story teller in our family, the three bears usually have a starring role, but the tale always has twists and turns involving various toys animals and fairytale characters. d's joins in and vetoes twists and plot moves he doesn't like, sort of interactive Terry Pratchet for 3 year olds.
For example Goldilocks - who wears killer heels and drives a green Porche boxter, ended up at the bears house as cat was navigating and they missed the slip road to the service station.
There are no wolves left in the UK as they were hunted to extinction because they kept blowing people's houses down.
The seven dwarves woke up the princess in the tower by throwing a bucket of water over her.
Major Panther has a regular slot on a mission to Mars ( or whatever planet) complete with singing and a soup dragon.
These stories can get incredibly complicated, and last several episodes.
DS absolutely loves them.

This is a great little app, tried it with my granddaughters and they loved to join in. When my children were tots I would read them something calming in a rather low modulated voice so as to encourage sleep of an evening,worked every time (almost).

The app is fab. Reading to children is so important, using different voices etc.

I love acting in stories and doing all the sound effects, it really livens it up and gets the kids really into it. I'm not so sure about the app though.

I am known to be able to talk as well as I can walk
Keep happy and make it snappy
everyone likes a story but not everyone can tell them

I've downloaded the app and although it's a nice idea with all the sound effects, it seems more fake, not carefree. Kind of hard to explain, but it's like how a lion's roar will not always sound the same every day, sometimes it'll sound more deadly, sometimes louder. If the same sound is playing again and again, it's just not the same than if you were to act it out.

I always used different voices when telling stories to my children and also tried to use repetitive phrases so that they could join in. As they grew and started learning to read, I used to get them to tell me the stories using the pictures to help. Finally, when they could read, I used to share reading with them - they would read a page and I would read a page - not only did it help with reading and enjoying stories, but it was a great opportunity to spend quality time with my children one at a time.

To make storytelling fun, I always try to do voices that characters might have and encourage my little one to do the same, it makes it really enjoyable and fun.

He app sounds great, I will try it out tonight. We mainly do stories at bedtime and yes, I go all out with it and put on silly voices and the like. My kids have picked up on this and now try out their own silly voices. Story time is very important in our house and a nice thing to do at bedtime.

My Mum was a fantastic storyteller and gave me my love of stories early on. I think this is so important for children, as consequently I loved to read and when I started school was a year ahead, and was moved up a class. I think every child should have this love so the app is a great thing.

I'm a nursery teacher and mum of three, my advice is to really get into the story yourself - be afraid of the gruffalo, or delighted by happy surprises, show it in your voice and face, and yes, do silly voices!

Thanks for all the feedback.
Am pleased to say Cherryjellybean has been selected as the winner of the £200 voucher. Well done. I will email you now.

The kids love made up stories of their teddies going on adventures. They help to make them up. It's great to share.

Out for dinner tonight and I went to the toilet, by mistake went to the mens room. DIdn't notice the big "Male" on the doorway or the urinals. Bumped into my friend's Brother on the way out!!!