Involve the listeners or readers. Ask them questions during the story like 'What do you think the little mouse should do now?'. You can also let them choose the ending of the story. For example, give two options for how a lost kitten finds its way home and let them decide which one they like better. This makes the whole process of telling the animals story more interactive and thus more interesting.
Use different voices when you are narrating different characters. This can bring more life to the story. You can also change the pacing, like make some parts faster and some parts slower to create suspense.
One way is to add some unexpected twists. For example, when it's your turn, suddenly introduce a magic element or a strange character that the previous part didn't hint at. This can make the story more engaging and surprise the other participants.
Mom can use different voices for different characters in the story. For example, a deep voice for a big bear and a high - pitched voice for a little mouse.
She can add some actions and gestures while telling the story. If it's a story about a bird flying, she can flap her arms like wings. This makes the story more vivid and engaging for the child.
Add some humor. A funny character or a witty line can make the whole story more engaging. For example, if it's a story about a journey, have a character who always makes silly mistakes and jokes about them.
Idioms add color. For example, if you use 'In the blink of an eye', it gives a sense of suddenness. It makes the story more vivid. Instead of just saying something happened quickly, you say 'In the blink of an eye, the magician made the rabbit disappear.'
She can use different voices for different characters. For instance, a deep voice for a big bad wolf and a high - pitched voice for a little mouse.
Grandpa can make the story - telling more interesting in several ways. He can start the story with a mystery or a cliffhanger to grab the attention of the listeners right away. He can also make the story interactive by asking questions during the telling, like 'What do you think the character should do next?' And he can use props. If it's a story about a magic wand, he can actually have a stick as a prop to show while telling the story.
You can use different voices for different characters. It'll make the story come alive.
Use modern technology like virtual reality or augmented reality. For example, people could experience the journey of the wise men as if they were right there. Also, set the story in a modern context, like a shopping mall at Christmas time.