Mamatoyz National Share a Story Month: Storytelling for children 3 - 5 years old

Storytelling has been an incredible form of communicating tradition, morals and entertainment for longer than we could ever imagine. From paintings on the wall to using memory to verbally recite previously heard stories, there are so many ways that stories can be told. This month is National Share a Story Month, so we’ve spent a bit of time going through all the reasons why you and your little one should be involved in storytelling, especially this month!

What is National Share a Story Month? 

National Share a Story Month is a month where organisations and homes promote reading to children. It’s a broad topic that libraries, schools, parents and lots of others get involved to bring back the love of reading to families across the country. The movement toward encouraging everyone to reignite their love for reading includes everything from reading, to writing, to speaking and even acting. 

When do children start using their imagination to share stories?

We can see a child’s imagination beginning to grow between the ages of 14 months and 18 months. This is often seen by children beginning to pretend play. It’s also likely that you’re little one has started talking and between 2 years to 3 years old, they’ll be forming sentences. Stories can be enjoyed by all and we know that reading to our children is a crucial part of their development from a young age. Your little one will begin sharing stories even simply about what they did in their day from between 3 years and 4 years old. These stories can be both fiction and nonfiction and as they continue to grow their complexities of these will increase. 

How can your child be involved in National Share a Story Month?

There are so many ways that your family can get involved especially little ones. With so many organisations getting involved with the theme of the month, you’ll be able to find many activities not just at pre-school or school but in the local community too. However, to keep things moving there are also lots of things that you can do at home too! Ideas can include:

• Online resources to encourage reading
• Creating reading milestone star charts
• Finding new books to read 
• Sharing favourite books with other friends and family
• Putting on plays of a favourite tale

How can a child create and dictate a story?

Depending on their age and where they are in their development, will depend on what they’ll be able to achieve. You’ll know best what is an achievable goal and activity for your child. Children who are just beginning to show an understanding of using their imagination can be joined during pretend play where they can show their storytelling abilities. As we move through the developmental stages, your little one will be able to show stories through acting and through drawing. Moving on from here they’ll then be able to start being more detailed and explorative about their stories. The best thing you can do to help your child be creative when it comes to storytelling is to provide them with helpful tools to encourage them as well as give them adequate input and attention when they need it. 

What tools can help your child tell their story?

Anything can be a storytelling tool. It can be as simple as a prop that helps them to illustrate their points to provide them with physical things like paper to note down their thoughts. Here are some of our favourites: 

• Casa Pink House
  We love the Casa Pink House for helping your little one to start on their imaginative play journey. They can have independent play sessions that help them build confidence in their abilities by using the toys to act out what they’re thinking about, problem solve and work through scenarios. 

• Kasabam Play Mat Set 
  Similar to the Casa Pink House, the Kasabam Play Mat provides a place for your little one to use the fun motions of play to build their imagination and creativity skills. The drawn-out streets allow multiple toys to interact with one another by your little one.
  
  

• Sera Kitchen
  A true popular favourite is the Sera Kitchen. A beautiful place that can be cafes, restaurants, home kitchens, take away stations, bakeries and truly anything that can be thought of. The perfect size for children, it's small for adults but is the perfect size for a little one to feel as though it's their very own.

• Retro TV Blackboard 
  The Retro TV Blackboard is perfect for dictating stories. Whether with baby or chalk a child can draw and explain their thoughts whilst its angle is ideal for presenting to an audience at the same time. 

• Medium Masa Desk & Bench
  The ultimate choice is the Medium Masa Desk. It gives a child their very own space to get creative along with what feels like to them, an infinity of paper that their creativity can continue to flow. This also can be a place where they can write and draw their own stories but truly create anything they could possibly think of!
  
  

Why should the whole family be involved?

The most beautiful thing about this National Awareness month is that the whole family can be involved. From older members of the family sharing stories with their younger generations to everyone being invited to watch reenactments of traditional stories. Storytelling can be a wonderful bonding time for the whole family and bring greater connections in these relationships. We all have something to learn and by listening to others we’re working on these healthy building blocks. 

How can you share your stories?

Don’t forget that families across the country will be sharing their stories and how they’re encouraging their children to get involved. So don’t forget to take to social media and share what you’re up to, to bring new online friendships and new ideas that you can try with your little ones. 

We hope that you’ll be getting involved this month and we hope that there is something that has sparked some inspiration for you to share with your little one!