The world is built on stories.
Huge empires like Netflix and Disney sit atop the human desire to watch and engage with them. Before cinema, tales were passed from generation to generation, keeping communities together.
Sitting down for storytime is arguably one of the most loved parts of our day at Hopes & Dreams nurseries! The children gather and listen, eyes wide and bodies still, as they take it all in.
In this blog, we will find out why it’s so important and how you can make story time fun for the whole family.
Why Storytelling Is Essential For Under 5s
Stories are magical. They transport you to new worlds where animals can talk, people have superpowers and tigers even join you for tea.
Storytelling supports different areas of development in young children. Let's take a look at them.
Language Development
Storytelling woven into daily routines builds children’s vocabulary, comprehension and structure. They develop an understanding of narrative, can practise their speaking skills and begin to recognise and understand more complex sounds.
This emphasises communication and language development through storytelling in the EYFS.
Cognitive Development
Through stories, children can engage with their imagination and creativity. They also enhance their critical thinking skills, helping them think logically and analytically and practice problem-solving.
Social and Emotional Development
Listening to, watching or being involved in storytelling helps children to understand emotions and empathy. When characters and their different perspectives and personalities are observed, this supports children in understanding social cues and relationships.
Connection
Whether it's bedtime stories with a parent or carer, storytime at nursery with peers or anything in between, stories create special moments for shared experiences and strengthen relationships.
Beyond Books
The Hopes & Dreams family adore books, and so do the children. But sometimes, children need a different way to connect to a story. Here are some other ways to incorporate storytelling into everyday life…
TV
TV time can play a role in storytelling for many families. Discussing an episode of Bluey or Fireman Sam is a great way to understand your child’s perception and perspective. It can also enhance your child’s vocabulary; Dora the Explorer is one example, gently teaching Spanish to its young viewers.
Audiobooks
Listening to stories using audiobooks can enhance listening skills and increase exposure to different voices and accents.
Chapter Books
Chapter books can be an exciting step up for many children. Introduce them gradually, beginning with shorter books with large fonts and plenty of illustrations.
Props And Puppets
Using props and puppets makes storytelling more interactive and engaging. They can enhance the experience, making it more memorable and fun.
Telling Family Stories
Sharing personal anecdotes and family history elements can be an incredible way to connect over stories with your children.
Making Up Stories Together
Encourage children to exercise their imagination and contribute to the narrative. What characters will they create? What adventures will they go on?
Acting Out Stories
Using different voices for characters is one thing, but turning stories into plays or trying out a scene - think the classic ‘We’re Going On A Bear Hunt!’ - can be a lot of fun!
Making Story Time More Engaging
Here are our top tips for making story time a point of connection and engagement for your children.
Choice Matters
Select storybooks with coloured pictures and interesting characters. Some children love to read a series featuring the same set of characters adventuring in a variety of engaging plots. Some companies can even print personalised books that feature your child!
Add Voices
Bring characters to life with different voices and expressions and you’ll surely see a grin on your child’s face.
Ask Questions
Encourage participation from your audience by asking questions about the story and characters. This will give you a great insight into their wonderful minds.
Make It Relatable
Pick or tell stories that connect to the child’s own current or past experiences to help them process emotions and events that might be occurring.
Get Comfy
Who doesn’t love cosying up with a book? Get in the mood for connection and reset by sourcing comfortable seating and soft lighting in a quiet place.
Routine
It can be hard to fit everything into a day, but stories are important. Having a dedicated story time can help make reading and storytelling a habit. Bedtime works for many families, but it’s not the rule!
Foster A Lifelong Love Of Reading
Incorporating plenty of storytelling during the formative years of a child’s life brings many benefits. Add regular story sessions into your days to start seeing the benefits and set a strong foundation for a love of books.
It’s not just stories that enhance children’s development. Did you know that music plays a pivotal role, too? Read about the importance of music in this blog
