Of course, storytelling doesn’t need a book! This can be quite a daunting thought for many but remember, made up on the spot stories have just as much benefit as reading a book. Also, if you forget a line, you can encourage your child to fill in the blanks as this is a great way for them to develop recall skills and confidence.
Spoken stories give you the opportunity to change outcomes and challenge perceptions, for example, maybe the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk was not scary, maybe he was just clumsy, lonely, and hungry? Posing different scenarios encourages children to think and ask questions, as well as have a giggle!
Don’t forget if you’re telling a story, you can enhance your child’s learning through effective interactions. Children’s books offer fascinating situations for a reason and for them to be the most beneficial, children need to be engaged and interested in what they are hearing. It is clear to see the difference in engagement levels and excitement when reading a book in a monotone ‘newsreader’ manner versus the animated way that children’s entertainers do. Changing the pitch of your voice according to the feelings and emotions in the story as well as using your body language and props to convey the events can really bring your story to life!
This is also a great thing to utilise depending on the time of day your storytime is or what you’re hoping to achieve. We recommend softening your tone of voice before bedtime and incorporating props during bigger productions during the day!
