Tell Me a Story

Only at bedtime is yawning a sign of gifted storytelling. To inspire even the most creatively challenged -- or tired -- among us, we asked some of the best yarn-spinning parents we know for their tips on keeping bedtime stories fresh. Try them. You'll see how much kids cherish hearing a story made just for them. And that's no tall tale.

Ask what happens next. When Will O'Brien was a toddler, his mom, Kathy, made up an ongoing saga about The Smith Kids. "Their main quality was that they were tiny and could fit inside raindrops," Kathy laughs. "To help keep the tales moving, I did a lot of 'then what happened?' prompts, so Will made up the stories as much as I did."

Create fictional stories based on real events from your child's day. Kids are tickled to see their world reflected back to them, and you'll only have to remember what happened before dinner.

Ask your child to name three things -- a teddy bear, the playground, and applesauce, say -- then spin a story around them: "Booboo Bear and the See-saw Snack."

Use the story to keep friends and family close, however far away they may be. A trio of cousins, a friend in a different town, or even a grandparent who's passed on can all be brought to life as beloved characters.

Incorporate the child's name in a silly way. Jeremy Pomeroy of New York City tells his three-year-old daughter a series of "Talia Bedalia" stories about a girl who's similar to but a little more mischievous than the real Talia.