Storytelling brings us together – whether it is cuddling up on the sofa and sharing a picture book, reading a chapter side-by-side with a teenager, or simply flipping through the pages with a toddler – there is something really special about it. It brings us together. Human beings have been telling stories since the beginning of time, ages before words were recorded and pen was put to paper. It slows the world down for a few moments, lets us dive into different worlds, meet new characters, and experience a whole variety of emotions. It isn’t a passive experience, it is a deeply human one.
As children grow, stories grow with them. They may not always remember the earliest stories they heard, but they remember the sharing of them. In a world full of screens, alerts and never-ending ‘content,’ children are often absorbing more than they are expressing. The digital world can entertain but without support it doesn’t always invite them to think, imagine or share their ideas. Telling and sharing stories helps children to create meaning, it is more than just hearing words. It is a way of using language to connect, communicate and build relationships.
From a developmental perspective, there are lots of skills that are nurtured through sharing stories. Shared joy and attention for one. Laughing together at the funny bit, realising at the same moment what wonderful or shocking thing is about to happen, or eagerly anticipating what will happen next, all build connections and strengthen relationships.
Books and stories expose children to rich vocabulary we don’t hear in day-to-day conversations and routines. Stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. Characters often encounter problems to be solved or an adventure to undertake. When we talk about the order of these events, we are learning to organise and express our ideas. These are all important skills for literacy and when children have been exposed to storytelling, the skills they are expected to demonstrate in their writing, often come easier to them
Teachers play a powerful role in nurturing these early literacy foundations through the way they share and talk about stories. Simple strategies such as pausing to wonder aloud, asking open-ended questions, revisiting favourite books, or retelling a story together, all support children to deepen their understanding. Children need a framework for organising their thoughts – talking about characters, predicting what will happen next, or connecting a story to a real-life experience are all ways of offering them this. Literacy grows when stories are explored playfully and responsively – this doesn’t need to be scripted or formal.
Stories are also a rich and meaningful context for using AAC (Alternative Augmentative Communication). Whether it is pointing to symbols, using a communication device or signing, AAC allows children to actively take part in storytelling instead of just listening. They can comment on pictures, choose favourite characters, express feelings or help retell events using their own communication system. When AAC is used alongside books, children see that their ideas matter and that stories belong to them too. This shared experience supports language development, comprehension and confidence, while reinforcing that communication, in all its forms, is valued.
Within stories, we get to watch characters develop. They experience problems, feel deep emotions, make mistakes and find solutions .This gives children a safe insight into the world around them. It gives them an opportunity to explore ideas, topics and emotions. They can think about what they might have done differently, or what caused a character to end up where they did. They may be drawn to stories that resonate with their own lives or ones that take them far away from reality. The options are truly endless.
Stories spark creativity. The cardboard box becomes a spaceship, the cleaning cupboard the time machine, the stick the magic wand. Children begin to imagine beyond what they can see, and this promotes writing, pretend play, and problem solving to name but a few skills.
Some children may not be ready to sit and listen to every line in a book. That’s ok. We don’t need to read the text at all. Talk about the pictures – this can be just as rich and even more meaningful. Describe what you can see, talk about what the characters might be saying or feeling, or let your child tell the story! This goes for their school reading books too. It is always exciting when our kids bring home their first reading book but storytelling doesn’t need to stop when this happens. If anything, continuing on this journey of sharing stories will help with all the other stuff that they are doing in the classroom.
So, next time you pick up a book with your child, let it unfold naturally. Forget about it being a task that needs completing. Get lost in the connection and joy that comes with telling a story and sharing the moment with someone you love.
