OTT 240: Wiggle While You Read: The Secret Weapon for Book-Resistant Bouncy Kids

Does your active child struggle to sit still during reading time? You're not alone. That constant fidgeting, restlessness, and apparent disinterest in books isn't a sign they don't like reading—it's their body telling you they need to move to learn effectively.

I share the story of my son Jackson, who walked at nine months and was physically advanced but struggled with traditional sit-still activities like reading. Many children—especially those with ADHD or sensory needs—process information better when movement is incorporated into learning. Science confirms what many parents observe: physical activity activates brain functions that improve focus, memory, and comprehension.

The heart of this episode reveals three game-changing strategies that transform reading from a dreaded chore into an exciting adventure. First, try yoga poses tied to story elements—like superhero stance when characters make brave choices or jumping jacks when settings change. This mind-body connection dramatically improves retention while making books feel interactive. Next, create story-based scavenger hunts by hiding objects that match elements in the book, turning reading into an active treasure hunt that kinesthetic learners love. Finally, act out parts of the story using movements and different voices, bringing characters to life and deepening understanding.

These simple techniques require minimal preparation but yield powerful results—children who not only comprehend better but actually enjoy reading. Best of all, these movement-based approaches create joyful connections between you and your child rather than reading battles. Ready to transform reading time? Download my free Five-Minute Reading Fix and try just one strategy tonight. Share how it works in the comments, and subscribe for more practical ways to raise confident, enthusiastic readers who love books their way.

The 5-Minute Reading Fix for Parents!
🚀 Want a simple, stress-free way to build your child’s reading confidence?
🎁 Grab my FREE 5-Minute Reading Fix!
📌 Quick, actionable strategies to help your child enjoy reading—without frustration.
📌 Perfect for busy parents who want real solutions fast!
👉 Download it here: 

https://trina-deboree-teaching-and-learning.kit.com/500af75f4b

Subscribe and Review:

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix, and if you’re not subscribed, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. Click here for iTunes.

Now, if you’re feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast, and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. Click here to leave a review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to One Tired Teacher.
Episode 240, three readinghacks for active kids.
So today we're talking aboutactive kids and how kids need to
move and read and move so thatthey can read, and all that good
stuff.
Hope you stick around.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Welcome to One Tired Teacher and even though she may
need a nap, this teacher isready to wake up and speak her
truth about the trials andtreasures of teaching here.
She is wide awake.
Wait, she's not asleep rightnow, is she?
She is awake right.
Okay, from Trina Debery,teaching and Learning your host,
trina Debery.

Speaker 1 (00:45):
Hi.
Does your child get restlesswhen they're reading?
They're unable to sit still andmaybe they fidget, they get
distracted.
They even seem like they mightbe a little bit uninterested in
the book.
Well, here's a secret Movementisn't the enemy of reading.

(01:06):
In fact, kids often focusbetter when movement is part of
the reading process.
In today's video, I'm going toshare three fun movement-based
activities or strategies thathelp engage kids with books
without losing focus.
These simple techniques willboost comprehension, increase

(01:27):
intention and make reading anadventure your child wants to
take.
Hope you stick around.
So here's what you're going tolearn.
You're going to learn thatmovement improves reading
comprehension and also itimproves the love of reading.

(01:53):
You're going to learn three fun, research-based strategies to
get kids to get kind of, get thewiggles out while reading, and
a simple five-minute reading fixfor busy parents who need quick
solutions.
All right, let's get started.
So why movement helps kidsfocus on reading?
Let me tell you a little storyabout my son Jackson.
He was a kid that moved all thetime.

(02:15):
I swear I thought when he wasfirst born that he was just
gonna.
I don't know how he was gonnacontinue to just go, go, go, go,
go all day Like he was anewborn and he would just kick,
kick, kick, kick, kick his legsconstantly.
From the moment that I broughthim home from the hospital he
would just lay on his back andkick his legs forever.
He was so active and sophysical all of the time and he

(02:38):
was just like way ahead ofschedule in the physical aspect.
He even walked at nine monthsold, and I'm not I don't mean
just walked around the table, Imean walked, and which was quite
an adventure.
But when it comes to talkingand reading and and things that
were more on that kind of aspectof of development, he had a

(02:59):
harder time.
It took him a little bit longer.
Part of the issue was is thathe needed to move to excel at
other things.
So things like sitting still inschool were a really big
struggle for him, and sittingstill and doing homework was
hard.
Going to church listening washard.
It was torture for Jackson.
So if your child struggles inthat way, let me tell you I get

(03:22):
it.
So let's talk about it.
Let's talk about the sciencebehind it.
Many kids, especially thosewith ADHD or even sensory needs,
which is my son, learn bestthrough movement.
Research shows that physicalactivity activates brain
functions.
It improves focusing.

(03:42):
It helps with memory andcomprehension.
Instead of forcing kids to sitstill all the time, we can
harness their energy to makereading interactive and engaging
.
So let's think about it.
Whoever been in like, a longmeeting or in a classroom
setting where you found yourselffidgeting, maybe you're guilty

(04:05):
of something that I do.
I'm going to show you what.
That is All right.
So this is a.
This is a minor example.
Like do you see how the pinthis is pulled out?
Like this is just the beginningof my problem.
This is a regular occurrence.
I fidget.
I fidget with pen caps, Ifidget with anything that I can,

(04:26):
because it's really hard for meto just sit still, like it is
for many kids.
If you've ever found yourselftapping or your pen shifting
from from you know one hand tothe other, or you're doodling,
or maybe drawing, or something,kids experience the same need to
move, but even stronger.

(04:48):
It's even stronger for them.
This is still in me.
In fact, the thing that helpsme is typing.
Typing is actually.
It allows me to move my body ata speed in which my brain is
able to process.
So, instead of making stillnessthe goal, we can build movement
into reading time to help kidsthrive.

(05:12):
Let's talk about some movementstrategies.
So if you've heard anythingthat you like so far, then
definitely give me a like, giveme a thumbs up, let me know in
the comments.
That helps me to know that I'mon the right track.
So let's talk about somemovement strategies.
So one thing we can do is wecan assign yoga poses to key

(05:34):
movements in books.
We can use reading and yogatogether.
This is the mind and bodyconnection.
So every time a specific eventoccurs, kids can strike a pose
while continuing to listen orread.
So, example we might do thesuperhero stance when the
character makes a brave choice.

(05:55):
We might do the tree pose,which is one of my favorites,
when the character is thinkingor planning.
We might do the tree pose,which is one of my favorites,
when the character is thinkingor planning.
We might do jumping jacks everytime a new setting is
introduced.
This is a really good one too,because it actually helps them
pay attention when to when thesetting does change, because
that can feel really subtlesometimes, but it can also be

(06:16):
can leave a really big clue fora reader.
We could do a downward dogevery time a character is having
a hard time.
So why does this work?
It engages both the mind andthe body.
It improves retention.
It helps reluctant readers stayengaged by making books feel
like an adventure, or it makesthem feel interactive, like

(06:41):
they're able to participate in away that feels good to them.
It encourages storytellingfluency by pairing words with
movement.
So let's try this tonightChoose a short book and assign
three simple movements relatedto the story.
Watch how much more engagedyour child becomes while reading

(07:02):
.
All right, let's talk aboutstrategy number two.
If you think that was a reallyhelpful strategy I've got to
share that with a friend thendefinitely subscribe to this
channel and share this channel.
Let other people know you knowwhat.
I'm getting some good adviceand I really love what I'm
hearing.
All right, let's talk aboutstrategy number two story-based

(07:24):
scavenger hunts.
This can be really fun and it'svery engaging for visual and
kinesthetic learners.
So how does it work?
Before reading, hide smallobjects around the house.
It could be pictures, it couldbe an object that has to go with
the story.
Anything will do.
You're going to hide themaround the room that matches

(07:47):
parts of the story as your childreads.
They have to search for thematching item.
When they reach that part ofthe book.
So here's an example.
If're reading the three littlepigs hide pictures of straw and
sticks and bricks around theroom.
If you're reading jack and thebeanstalk, yes, I'm still like,

(08:07):
stuck on fairy tales, folk talesand fables.
I'm ready to come out of thosegenres and get something new.
But, um, those are the examplesthat I have right now.
So we're going to read.
If we're reading jack and thebeanstalk, we're going to hide a
picture of a golden egg or agiant's footprint.
We're going to hide those forthem to find.
If you're reading Pigs that MakeMe Sneeze by Mo Willems, hide

(08:29):
tissues around the house.
Any kind of thing like thatjust makes it a little bit more
engaging and fun, gets themmoving, gets blood flowing in
their brain, and then they comeback to what you're doing.
So why does this work?
It turns reading into an activeadventure instead of a passive
task.
It strengthens comprehension byreinforcing story elements

(08:52):
through movement, and it'sreally great for reluctant
readers who struggle withtraditional reading approaches.
So try this tonight.
Choose a book, pick three tofive objects and hide them.
Let your child hunt for themwhile you are reading.
Watch their excitement grow.
All right, let's talk aboutstrategy number three Again.

(09:14):
If you're like this is great, Ilove it, definitely give me a
thumbs up.
Let me know in the comments.
I'm going to try that I lovethis.
All right.
Moving on Strategy number three,and that is acting out stories.
This really boosts fluency andexpression.
So how does it work?
Instead of just reading a bookwhich I don't want to say that

(09:36):
as a bad thing because that's awonderful thing, which I don't
want to say that as a bad thingbecause that's a wonderful thing
Along with reading a book, haveyour child act out parts of the
story using simple movements,encouraging them to use
different voices, differentfacial expressions and gestures
to bring the characters to life.
This also brings a lot moremeaning to them and helps them

(10:00):
better remember the story.
Here's an example Pretend tosneak.
If you're the fox, you're goingto pretend to sneak.
If you're a character who issneaky, like the fox and the
gingerbread man, you're going topractice sneaking up.
If there's some kind of dangeror something really exciting

(10:20):
going on in the story, you canrun in place when the character
is escaping the danger.
You can use a dramatic voicewhen a character makes an
important decision.
Why does this work?
It improves fluency andcomprehension by making words
feel more meaningful.
It helps kids who struggle withexpression become more
confident readers.

(10:41):
It turns reading into playinstead of schoolwork.
Try this tonight Pick one scenefrom a favorite book and act it
out together.
Encourage dramatic voices andmovements to make it come alive.
All right, so we're gettingready to wrap it on up.
I want to tell you about thefive-minute reading fix.

(11:02):
I'm going to show you a littlescreen.
If you want to make it easy andstress-free to build your
child's reading confidence, thengrab my five-minute reading fix
.
It's quick, actionablestrategies to help your child
enjoy reading withoutfrustration.
It's perfect for busy parents.
I also have one for teacherswho need real solutions fast,

(11:23):
and you can download that rightbelow in the description.
All right, let's talk aboutfinal thoughts.
Reading doesn't have to meansitting still.
Movement-based readingstrategies help kids stay
engaged and helps them focusbetter.
It helps them understand deeperand it actually helps them
enjoy books.

(11:44):
Plus, the good news is, yourchild starts to see reading as
joyful.
It's a joyful moment with you.
It's a moment of connection andnot just a constant time of
drudgery.
Try one of these strategiestoday and let me know how it
worked.
Do drop a comment below.
Let me know what's your child'sbiggest reading struggle.

(12:05):
And if you want to know morequick and easy reading
strategies, sign up for mynewsletter and get access to
exclusive tips, bookrecommendations and fun reading
challenges.
You can find that attrinadeveryteachinglearningcom
forward slash newsletter.
Don't forget to definitely like, share and subscribe to this

(12:28):
channel so you don't miss athing.
And also, let's remember thatwe're building joyful and
confident readers, readers inthe making, one page at a time.
Bye for now.