Here are 20 great sources of inspiration for ideas for storytelling for kids that I have found helpful for night time/any time storytelling. We want to inspire children through storytelling and help them master the simple elements and structure of storytelling themselves. These storytelling ideas work great in the classroom or at home.
Storytelling Ideas for kids of all ages
In my house the storytelling usually falls to mother dearest and sometimes, just sometimes! I need a little storytelling inspiration to help me get going.
My favorite stories, since my daughter was a teeny tot, have emerged through side-by-side crafting. I sit quietly by Molly’s side as her imagination takes flight when we make little wine cork characters or peg dolls together, or I scribble down her stories in her own words as she draws the pictures. I realized that almost any type of activity can become a storytelling activity for kids. Embrace your creativity and channel your inner story!
Related: Story stones are perfect for starting a simple story
1. Tips: How to Tell a Story
David Sewell McCann of Sparkle Stories talks about trusting in your inner voice and creativity and sharing a few of his tips and techniques for telling a story. Read the article on craftingconnections. This is a great way to learn how to tell a story.
2. Tips: Story Prompts
Finding the right words isn’t always easy, sometimes you need a little prompt to get the words flowing! Read about story prompts on craftingconnections. This is one of my favorite storytelling activities because prompts will help you be more creative. This is a great way to have some story starters.
3. The Princess and The Pea Play Set
Peg doll playsets are such a fun craft for practicing storytelling and retelling. This inspiring Princess and The Pea Play Set is the perfect story helper that will have your children spinning a yarn or two in no time. and putting the princess to bed over and over again! See how to make on MollyMooCrafts. I love this because it allows your kids or the target audience to see the main character.
4. Wine Cork Animals
With just some wine corks, styrofoam balls, glue and paint you too can create some super cute pocket story starter toys – I wonder what this little group of friends get up to! These pocket toys are great for taking along to restaurants or road trips too. via MollyMooCrafts. Make personal stories by using these cute cork dolls!
5. Storytelling Using Lego
As kids get older they may become more and more reluctant to participate in face to face storytelling make storytelling easy for my kids ¦ with LEGO! Check out these 7 great tips for storytelling using Lego right here on KidsActivitiesBlog
6. Imaginative play and storytelling inspired by a milk carton
I just adore how a simple little craft lights that little spark in a child’s imagination – watch it take flight and enjoy the gorgeous little stories that pop out. See the magic for yourself on MollyMooCrafts. Bring fairy tales to life!
7. Talking Puppets
With just Styrofoam balls, fabric scraps and other household bits and pieces your kids will be dreaming up characters for their stories in no time ¦.. and the puppets talk back!! see how easy they are to make on MollyMooCrafts
8. Superheros & Sidekicks
Continue the wine cork story starter making with some superheros and sidekicks. Who know what crazy adventures these guys will get up to! via mollymoocrafts. You can come up with some good stories with these superheroes and sidekicks. Using tools and dolls are a great way to build up storytelling skills.
9. Circus Inspired Puppet Theater
DIY fabric doorway puppet theatre, easy to put up and take down – a winning story starter. See how to make on classic-play
10. Shoebox Puppet Theatre
Spare a thought for all those discarded shoe boxes at back to school time and up-cycle them into mobile theaters for finger puppets and popsicle stick puppets. See how to make on MollyMooCrafts
11. Alter-Egos
Use poster boards to create comic book cells – a backdrop for your child’s fantasy comic world and alter egos. Pure genius! from classic-play
12. Jack and The Beanstalk
Make a cast of retelling characters from some clothespins and yarn. via fantasticfunandlearning
13. The Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly
Upcycled Puppet from a plastic container and Pom Pom flies!! so clever and funny. What a great craft for storytelling and retelling from two-daloo
14. The Owl & The PussyCat
The possibilities are limitless for story and nursery rhyme storytelling and retelling with wine cork crafting on KidsActivitiesBlog
15. Child Made Story Puppets
Bring your children’s art to life and make puppet to act out their wonderful stories. on here and here on KidsActivitiesBlog
16. Gingerbread Man
Storytelling with play dough. Wholesome simple fun from nurturestore
17. Group Storytelling Game
Story Stones turned into colorful characters and props make intriguing storytelling tools via babygizmo. This is a great way to bring forth new ideas and allows everyone to practice creative writing.
18. Make A Story
Your child can be a comic a comic writer that is! check out this free printable on KidsActivitiesBlog. This is a good story idea because it is so much fun. A young child can captivate the audience’s attention with their stories using these comic strips. Print these off as many times as you want which will allow them to explore fun and exciting short story ideas.
19. “I’ll Draw The Pictures And You Draw The Words”
AND finally my favorite thing of all to do is document and keep my daughter’s wonderful stories safe for her to treasure when she is older. They cheer me up each and every time I stumble upon them. See and read two of her stories here and here. This is great because you can print off the pages and let them draw or do it on the computer…great for digital storytelling!
Note from the Author
There should be a place for sharing our children’s stories, what a joyful place that would be!
Michelle
xx
More Story Ideas & Fun from Kids Activities Blog
- Be inspired by the many stories from Black History month for kids
- Make a Toy Story slinky dog craft that always makes me giggle
- Jokes for kids is a good start for a funny short story!
- Here are our favorite books that celebrate the Thanksgiving story for kids
- Creation crafts for kids is a good place to start with the original story
- Sprinkle in some fun facts into your next good story
- These childrens book ideas are all inspired by our favorite kids book stories
- What about this fun frog story?
- Baby stories for bedtime should be relaxing…but this baby shows that isn’t always the case.
- Learn how to encourage higher level thinking in your kids!
- Looking for some more books and story crafts? Then check out these Jack and the Beanstalk crafts and activities.
What is your favorite storytelling idea? Did we miss how your family tells stories?
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