The following post is by editor Kara Fleck.
Storytelling can be intimidating for some parents. They worry that they won’t know what to talk about, how to craft the story, that it won’t be interesting enough to hold their child’s attention. And sometimes, even if storytelling comes very naturally to us, by the time bedtime rolls around, we’re simply too tired to come up with something creative and engaging on the spot.
“Tell me a story” can be a phase that parents begin to dread. But, the truth is, this is one of those areas where we tend to over-think and worry too much. No elaborate plots or theater degrees are needed. Children love simple stories and they love it when we are the ones telling them.
So, I am going to share some very simple ideas for storytelling and give you a few story starters, too. And I’m doing in so in my first ever vlog on Simple Kids.
I’m afraid I was a little nervous and I didn’t speak quite loudly enough in some places and I’m certainly an amateur vlogger, but I hope you’ll enjoy meeting me face-to-face and be able to pick up a few tips and ideas for storytelling that you can use with your kids.
Also on YouTube.
Story Starters
A Familiar Name
Name the main character after your child. Give other characters names of family members, pets, or friends. A recent hit with my son Max was a story about going to the zoo and every animal was named Max: Max Lion, Max Elephant, Max Monkey, Max Dolphin, etc.
Once upon a time, a bear cub named Max was walking through the forest with his mother …
Personal History
Use a story from your child’s past.
When you were two years old your very favorite thing to wear was your red sparkly shoes. One day, you put on your red sparkly shoes and …
A few ideas:
- Tell the story of how your child got their name
- Tell them the story of their first birthday
- Describe an outfit that you liked to dress them when they were a baby
- Tell them about foods they liked to eat as a baby, toddler – describe how they ate, the faces they made
Your Childhood
Tell stories from your own childhood. Kids love to hear about when their parents were little!
Once upon a time, when Mommy was a little girl, she went to the train museum with her Grandpa. While we were there we saw …
When Daddy was a little boy, his very favorite game to play was …
With a Twist
Tell a favorite familiar story with a twist or combine two of your child’s favorite fairy tales.
Once upon a time, Little Red Riding Hood and her Grandmother invited the Three Little Pig to tea …
Repeat Yourself
Kids love repetition. It is comforting and familiar. Don’t be afraid to use the same characters or the same basic story outline over and over again. Before long, they will be like old friends. Our story of the Rainbow Dresses is a favorite because my daughter knows it by heart. It has been woven into the fabric of our family through the telling and re-telling.
You can repeat the same plot line, too. Classic stories like The Enormous Turnip are still making kids giggle today, in part because of their repetitive nature: by the time the Farmer’s son comes along to help the Farmer and his wife pull the enormous turnip from the ground, kids can predict what happens next.
Being able to anticipate what happens next is part of the appeal for young children, so use that repetition in your own stories. What may seem overly simple to you will delight your child.
To Be Continued
Stories don’t have to have a nice tidy ending. Let the story weave itself in installments night after night. Let your child take over and tell parts of it, too.
Ask your child, “What do you think happened next?” and let them give you the ending … or is it just the beginning of another adventure?
In Your Home
Hopefully at least one of these story starters appeals to you and can be something that you can rely on the next time your child puts you on the spot with the phrase “tell me a story” – maybe even at bedtime tonight?
Do your kids have a favorite story that you tell? What are some of your tips for storytelling?
About Kara
I’ve done this with my kids a few times, but used to do it CONSTANTLY with my old college roommate! She’d give me 5 words and I’d weave them into a quirky tale. It’s great fun!
Annie´s latest post: How Do You Do It Prayer
weaving in randomly selected words – I like that! Fun, impromptu and I bet it can get really silly really quickly
Great idea!
Kara @SimpleKids´s latest post: The Sibling Relationship- Challenging but Powerful
Wonderful ideas for storytelling! Thanks for the inspiration!
Loved the vlog too!
Pam´s latest post: We Should Be Packing…
Thanks, Pam
Kara @SimpleKids´s latest post: The Sibling Relationship- Challenging but Powerful
What a fantastic vlog, and post Kara! I’m usually do brain dead when I’m putting the boys down that coming up with a story sometimes seems like an impossible task.
Thanks for some keys and a formula to help me out.
You’re so adorable and relaxed! Great job, really.
Aimee @ Simple Bites´s latest post: Thanksgiving Leftovers- What to do with all the Turkey
Thanks, Aimee! Yes, it can be hard to find extra creativity at the end of the day, especially when you are tired yourself.
Glad you found it helpful, and thanks for your kind words re: the vlog
Kara @SimpleKids´s latest post: The Sibling Relationship- Challenging but Powerful
Awww, your voice is very calming and sweet. You did very well.
I love these ideas.
thank you
Kara @SimpleKids´s latest post: The Sibling Relationship- Challenging but Powerful
Can I say- I WANT that wooden doll???? So sweet- do you remember where you got it?
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Thanks! We have had her, and her sisters, for a few years. She is from Fancie Fannies: http://www.etsy.com/shop/fanciefannies
Kara @SimpleKids´s latest post: The Sibling Relationship- Challenging but Powerful
Thanks for the list of ideas!
My kids love to hear stories of when Mommy was a little girl and when Daddy was a little boy. I started doing this when my oldest was a toddler we all enjoy the stories!
One of the first, and probably our favorite, is the story of the watermelon seed I planted. I riffed off of Crockett Johnson’s The Carrot Seed for the format, but the actual events really did happen (though I came away with a large watermelon instead of a giant carrot).
The Watermelon seed – I love it!
Kara´s latest post: The Sibling Relationship- Challenging but Powerful
This vlog? MADE MY DAY! I truly felt like I’ve met you face-to-face an you every bit as gentle and kind and inspiring as I’ve always imagined you to be. LOVE IT, Kara! Love, love, love.
The girls and I make up stories together a LOT but these are some wonderfully fresh ideas for future storytelling times.
(Seriously. You made my day.)
Megan@SortaCrunchy´s latest post: You Tell Me- Relief for TMJ Pain
Thank you, my friend. I was really nervous, so all of the kind comments are super appreciated!
Would you just look at this lovely post packed with ideas!!! Fantastic!!!
se7en´s latest post: The Week That Was – 314
Oh Kara,
You know I LOVE this post! There are some great ideas that I haven’t heard of. I’m at the airport so I’ll have to wait to hear the vlog but kudos to you for attempting it!
I definitely want to share this on my facebook and twitter. Sometimes when I’m too tired to read to my daughter we turn off the light and lay down and I tell her a story but I need to do this more often than I do.
Janna @ Mommy’s Piggy TALES – Record YOUR Youth´s latest post: Blogworld Bound
Janna, that is so kind of you to say! Thank you for sharing this
I find that what seems to come naturally for some parents can be a real struggle for others and storytelling is something that falls into that category, i believe.
Glad that I could give you some fresh ideas and I agree, at the end of the day it isn’t always easy to be creative and come up with stories off the cuff.
My daughter is always trying to get me to come up with new songs so I’ve started singing my own versions of popular fairy tales like the Three little Pigs and Goldilocks. She gets her bedtime stories and songs all in one shot.
Lisa´s latest post: How Green is Your Dining Table
Musical bedtime stories – I love it!
Thank you Thank you Thank you. My daughters summertime Kids Day Out teacher used to tell Magic Milk stories and she LOVED THEM. She is always asking me to tell her a Magic Milk story and I was too intimidated. Now I may not tell Magic Milk, but one of my own making. Thank you for taking the mystery out of storytelling!
And the vlog was awesome!
You are very welcome!
And, I meant what I said in the vlog: if a really shy person like me can vlog, then you can tell a story to your kids. It can be intimidating, but I bet once you find your our version of the Magic Milk stories, you’ll be weaving together words with your daughter and making wonderful memories together, too
thanks for your kind words!
This is great! Since I started telling my childhood stories, my son never ceases to ask for more until I run out of story ideas (I can remember only so many)! You are right to say that it is okay to repeat as my son doesn’t mind me doing it. I have stopped telling stories to my kids for a while. Your article reminds me that I should continue and gives me more ideas on story telling. Thanks, Kara.
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You’re welcome, Abel
Kara @SimpleKids´s latest post: The Sibling Relationship- Challenging but Powerful
Great job on the video log.
I don’t storytell as much as I could but I love to tell stories from my childhood or of my children when they were younger. I often use photos as prompts.
Catherine´s latest post: We play – with pegs
using pictures as story starters – I LOVE that!
Kara @Simple Kids´s latest post: Simple Storytelling- Ideas and Story Starters and a vlog- too
Wonderful vlog, Kara! Love it!
You did a great job. I imagine that listening to you tell a story must be very calming and magical for your children. These are great ideas – my daughter is always asking me to tell her stories, especially when we’re in the car. I will keep all these suggestions in mind from now on. Thanks so much!
I totally freeze up when my kids ask me for a story — even my childhood seems suddenly bland — but one thing that I sometimes do is the kind of twist you mentioned. “The Three Little Sea Otters and the Big Bad Shark,” for example. Just pick a classic story and stick it in an entirely different setting.
In the car, our family sometimes has fun with “Fortunately/Unfortunately” tag-teaming stories.
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Great vlog, and ideas, Kara! I love the idea with all the characters having your kid’s name. I think my daughter would get a kick out of that.
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Thanks, Nicole!
Yes, my four year old especially loves whenever every character has his name.
Max octopus, Max fish, Max lobster, Max King of the Mermaids, Max shark ….
Thanks for nice share