They can use creative disguises. For example, dressing up as a spooky ghost to scare the other kids during the prank war. It adds an element of surprise.
One way is to incorporate mystery. Hide clues around for the other kids to find, leading them to a big prank. This makes the whole process more engaging like in a detective story in the novel.
To make kids bedtime stories more interesting, you can create your own versions of the classic stories. For instance, change the ending of 'Little Red Riding Hood' so that she outsmarts the wolf instead of being rescued. You can also relate the stories to the kids' own experiences. If the story is about a journey, talk about a time when the kids went on a trip. Illustrate the story as you tell it. Draw simple pictures on a piece of paper or use a whiteboard if available. This helps the kids visualize the story better and makes it more captivating.
Use different voices for different characters. For example, if you're telling a story about a big bear, use a deep voice. Add sound effects like making a whooshing sound for the wind or a creaking sound for an old door. Also, you can use simple props. If it's a story about a magic wand, you can use a stick as a prop.
Add some colorful pictures. For example, draw funny skeletons with big smiles or doing interesting things like dancing.
Add colorful illustrations. You can draw simple pictures related to the story or use clip art. For example, if it's a story about a forest, draw trees, animals, and flowers.
To make it more interesting, you can involve the kids in the story. Ask them questions like what they think the character should do next. You can also use props. For instance, if it's a story about a pirate, show them a toy sword or an eye patch. Another way is to tell the story in an interactive way, like acting out parts of it with the kids.
Adding personal details to the story can make it more interesting. If it's a story about a haunted house, the kid can say that the house looks like the old abandoned one they saw on their way to the campsite. Also, kids can act out parts of the story. If it's a story about a monster chasing someone, they can run around a bit like they are being chased to make it more exciting.
Putting salt in the sugar bowl is a classic. It's simple but can lead to some really funny reactions when someone tries to sweeten their coffee or tea.
Use different voices for different characters. For example, if you're telling 'The Three Little Pigs', make a gruff voice for the wolf and squeaky voices for the pigs. This can engage the kids more.
One way to make a quick kids bedtime story more interesting is to involve the child. Ask them questions like 'What do you think the character should do next?'. You can also change the ending of the story a bit, make it unexpected. For example, in 'The Three Little Pigs', instead of the wolf getting defeated in the usual way, make it so that the wolf becomes friends with the pigs after learning his lesson. And use lots of descriptive words to paint a vivid picture in the child's mind.
Use different fonts for different characters' dialogues. This can make the story seem more vivid and engaging. Also, you can include some simple interactive elements like a small riddle related to the story in the middle.