More Than Make-Believe: The Power of Storytelling for Kids

Why Stories Matter

Think of the first time you heard a story about your grandparents’ lives, or read a book about an imaginary world. Were you still in your chair, listening? Or were you transported to a different time and place, among people you’ve never met, doing things you’d never dreamed of?

Stories surround us. They are a fundamental part of the human experience. People have been sharing tales of their world and their imagination since pre-historic times.

The Lascaux cave paintings, found in south-west France, for example, offer a snapshot into the lives of Paleolithic cave painters. If they hadn't thought to draw pictures of their daily lives or the animals they hunted, we would have never known about them. Their existence would have been but an insignificant moment, vanishing with the passage of time. Instead, their stories still echo in hauntingly beautiful etchings, forever immortalized in UNESCO's World Heritage List.

We’re all living stories. The tales we tell ourselves (or we’re told) shape us, help us grow, and make us who we are. At their core, stories remind us that we are not alone in this world.

“The shortest distance between two people is a story.” – Patti Digh

Stories for Young Hearts

For children, especially, stories are a powerful way to understand the complicated world around them, and their place in it.

We often tell our kids to be brave or to be kind. But stories from literature, history and culture show them how.

Want to muster up some courage? Look at David standing up to Goliath. Learning to be kinder? Consider The Selfish Giant who transforms his entire personality when he experiences empathy, or revisit The Lion and the Mouse from Aesop’s Fables, who teach us that no act of kindness is ever wasted.

“Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, more loving.”– Madeleine L’Engle

Here’s the kicker, though: it’s important to read aloud to your children. Storytelling is a spoken art form, without the use of physical images or texts, so it involves more eye contact and interaction between the speaker and the listener.

Research shows that children activate their brains differently when they’re listening to stories, as compared to when they’re reading a picture book. From enhanced imagination to increased vocabulary and better communication skills, storytelling is an activity that has a remarkable, long-lasting impact on kids.

From Listening to Storytelling

Listening to stories is one thing… becoming a storyteller is another.

Encouraging kids to tell their own stories has an indelible effect on their wellbeing. Among other benefits, it helps them:

·      Develop language skills

·      Foster creativity

·      Learn to be more organized

·      Boost self-confidence and articulation

·      Improve memory and focus

Where we come in

Through well-loved stories from literature, history and culture, and a special focus on Islamic heritage for Muslim children, here at Little Storytellers, we aim to add meaning and wonder to your child’s learning journey.  

We leverage our experience with narrative and creative writing to help your child nurture their own unique voice.

In every session, kids listen to a thematic story, interact with it in a hands-on way through fun activities like art or charades, and for older kids (aged 7-9), create their own unique tale. They get the chance to imagine new characters, invent plot twists, and explore lessons and morals. Our expert storyteller helps them structure their ideas into full stories – from beginning to middle to end – and bring their wonderful tales to life.

Since every class is a group session, Little Storytellers is also a wonderful place to make friends and join a thoughtful, kind community of young creatives.

Ready to have your child start their new adventure? Head over to our classes and pick the one that best suits your kiddo's interests.