The Importance of sharing stories with children

Bring stories alive by involving the children

There are many reasons why reading stories to children are so important. It can often be forgotten by a practitioner as to why reading stories are important. It is good practice too often discuss with other colleagues and parents why sharing stories are beneficial to children’s development. When at home and nursery children will often request their favorite story or will wander over to the book box and select a story. When sharing a story, this is when children are being introduced to new words, by just pointing to pictures in the story this is helping children learn what things are called.

Storytime at home can often be linked to the bed routine; children will understand that when storytime is over it is bedtime. When at nursery storytime can often be incorporated into the daily routine. Some settings have a story before lunch or just before going to sleep. It is important to ensure storybooks are also available at other times of the day.

A storybook will hold a vast amount of information and by sharing stories regularly with children this can help provide children with another source of learning about the world around them.

Instead of reading a story to a group of children why not involve the children in the story and bring the story to life. Most children will thoroughly enjoy playing a part in the story and re-enacting the story with their peers. Giving children a part in the story with help develop their self-esteem as well as their confidence. They is no harm in not using the book and retelling the story using props.

If children are keen on using the story book then why not ask a child to use the book to retell the story, giving children these learning opportunities will help them gain confidence and develop their social skills.

Why not make some story sacks that are left in the book corner for children to access and use.  Within these sacks include resources that children can use to retell the story such as dressing up clothes, puppets, soft toys, a velcro storybook. Visual aids are great in helping support stories.

When involving younger children in retelling the story  keep it very simple and use props to keep them engaged. Read our top tips on storytelling

After retelling the story why not extend the activity by encouraging children to draw pictures from the story, this will help develop their mark making skills.

Here is a short list of stories that are great for involving children.

• Little Red Riding Hood
• Jack and the Beanstalk
• Handa’s Suprise
• The Three little pigs
• Peace at last
• Going on a bear Hunt

What other stories do children enjoy at your nursery?