Tell It Together: Co-Creating Stories With Children Through Play
Introduction
May is a time to celebrate imagination. Storytelling is more than words on a page — it is the way children make sense of their world, practise language, and connect with others. When stories are created together, they become shared adventures that build empathy and spark creativity. Through play, children discover that every idea, no matter how small, can become part of a tale worth telling.
What Do the Experts Say?
Bruno Bettelheim, child psychologist, explained that stories help children work through emotions and understand different perspectives, strengthening both empathy and resilience.
Lev Vygotsky, educational theorist, emphasised the role of imaginative play in language development, noting that children learn best when they co-create meaning with others.
Margaret Meek, literacy specialist, highlighted how storytelling helps children recognise patterns in language, laying strong foundations for reading and writing.
At Home
Ways to tell stories together: Try puppets, story dice, or drawings to bring characters to life. Let children’s ideas guide the story.
Story prompts: Begin with simple “what if” questions, such as “What if the teddy could talk?” or “What if the rain turned into paint?”
Daily moments as mini-narratives: Turn a walk, a meal, or bedtime into a short story by describing events as they unfold and inviting children to add their own details.
Letting go of perfection: Stories don’t need to be polished or follow strict rules. Allow pauses, silliness, and unexpected turns — these are often the moments children remember most.
At The Bubble Bus
At The Bubble Bus, stories take many forms — through role play, puppetry, art, and movement. Children are encouraged to co-create tales, weaving their own ideas into shared play. This practice builds language, empathy, and confidence while making learning joyful. In May, we celebrate storytelling as a way for children to find their voice, share their perspective, and enjoy the magic of building something together.
