Feb 20, 2025
Creating and retelling stories is a powerful way for children to build essential skills in memory, problem-solving, language development, and social-emotional growth.
By engaging in storytelling, children not only enhance their cognitive and language abilities but also their creativity, empathy, and critical thinking. Encouraging storytelling as a regular activity helps children develop both academic skills and life skills, making it a valuable tool in their overall development.
Start by telling a familiar story, such as ‘We’re going on a Bear Hunt’ by Michael Rosen. Say a sentence or two, and then have your child tell a few sentences. Take turns until you have retold the entire story. Let your child choose the next story to retell and let them start.
Create a silly story together, taking turns to add different suggestions and details to your own made-up story. For example, ‘Once upon a time, there was a ___’ and let your child fill in the blank. Continue with ‘and the ___ liked to eat ___’. Continue in this way, taking turns to let the other fill in the blanks. Why not write your silly story down whilst you are telling it and let your child illustrate it so that you can share it again.