Mar 07, 2025
Retelling stories and dramatising them are wonderful activities for helping children apply what they’ve heard or read, and they play a significant role in developing both their comprehension and vocabulary skills.
These activities go beyond passive listening or reading—they actively engage children in the story, encouraging them to think critically, express themselves, and make connections between the story’s elements and their own experiences.
Retelling and dramatising stories allows children to use new vocabulary, practice sequencing, and develop critical thinking skills—all while having fun and engaging creatively with the material. By retelling stories, children can explore narratives from different perspectives, gain confidence in their communication, and enjoy a deeper connection to the stories they encounter.
Whilst sharing one of your child’s favourite books, encourage them to act it out whilst you read. For example, if you are sharing a classic book like The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, your child might like to pretend to be the caterpillar eating the food. When your child pretends to be the hungry caterpillar, they are visualising and embodying the caterpillar’s journey, which deepens their grasp of the plot and key concepts.
Role-playing encourages children to use descriptive words and phrases from the book in context. For example, while pretending to be the caterpillar, your child might say, “I’m so full!” or “I feel bigger now!” This helps them practice new vocabulary in a meaningful context.
Involve other family members and give them specific parts to play. Set up a home theatre and make tickets, then invite people to come and watch the show.
Setting up a home theatre and involving other family members in a story dramatisation is a fun, engaging, and creative way to bring a book or story to life. It combines reading, acting, teamwork, and even elements of theatre production, which makes it a dynamic and memorable learning experience. Plus, it encourages a sense of community and collaboration among family members and is great fun!