Storytelling activities for kids at home

1. The story chain

One person starts with a single sentence, such as “A crow was very thirsty.” The next person adds one sentence, and so on around the circle. There are no wrong turns. Use it to retell a tale you know, like the Thirsty Crow, or to make up a brand-new one.

2. Give everyone a voice

Read aloud and give each character a voice: a slow deep one for the elephant, a squeaky one for the mouse. Then hand over the voices. Let your child be the lion while you read the rest. Silly voices help shy children to speak.

3. Three picture cards

Fold a sheet of paper into three parts. Draw the beginning, middle and end of a story, one box each. Then use the pictures to tell it out loud. This also works well with older children for retelling a favourite story in their own words.

4. Paper-bag puppets

Draw faces on small paper bags and slip your hands inside. Puppets make it easier to say difficult things, and children often speak more freely through a character. Try the Blue Jackal, who needs only a blue crayon. For more characters to make, see puppet and shadow play for kids.

5. Act it out

Choose a short tale and act it with whatever is at hand: a cushion for a rock, a scarf for a river. Let the child direct. Keep it playful and keep it short.

6. Change the ending

Pick a tale your family already knows, then draw or write a new last picture or sentence for it. A grown-up can help with the writing and take down the child's words. Ask, “What if the monkey had said something different?” and let the child decide what the new last picture shows. Our Monkey and the Crocodile guide is a good one to try.

7. The whispered bedtime tale

Dim the lights and tell a short story in a very quiet voice, with a pause at the end for a question. Our bedtime stories for 5-year-olds has ideas for gentle tales.

8. Ask an elder for a story

Invite a grandparent or an older relative to tell a story from their own childhood, in the language they love. Ask what they were told as children and who told it. Children often remember these tales for years. If no relative is near, a phone call works well.

Making it work

Keep it short and easy

Ten minutes is plenty. Stop while everyone is still enjoying it.

Ask open questions

“What do you think happens next?” invites more than “Do you remember what happened?”. After a moral story, ask how the character felt before you talk about the lesson. Our guide on moral stories for kids has more tips.

Follow the child

If your child wants to hear the same story ten times, that is fine. Familiar tales are comforting, and each retelling adds something.

Pair a story with a pencil

Many of our stories come with a colouring page. You can also browse the activity sheets, or try a riddle from Paheli after the story. For quick turn-taking games with no props, see our storytelling games for kids.

Questions

What are easy storytelling activities for kids at home?

Try a story chain, giving characters different voices, drawing three picture cards, making paper-bag puppets, acting out a tale, changing the ending, telling a whispered bedtime story, or asking an elder for a childhood story.

Do I need special supplies?

No. Paper, pencils, a few paper bags and your own voice are enough. Every activity here uses things most homes already have.

What if my child does not want to tell a story?

Do not push. Tell the story yourself, let your child join in with just a sound or a word, and try again another day. Listening is also a way of taking part.

Can we tell stories in our home language?

Yes, and it is a lovely idea. Tell the story in whichever language your family speaks most comfortably, and mix languages freely if that feels natural.