Speaking and Listening: Storytelling

Why Storytelling Matters in Early Education

Telling and listening to stories is one of the most natural ways for young children to build their communication skills. For children in Key Stage 1 (ages 5 to 7), storytelling brings together speaking, listening, group work and early drama skills in a single activity that most children genuinely enjoy.

Whether a child is the one telling the story or sitting and listening to someone else, they are practising skills that form the foundation of the English National Curriculum. Both telling and listening contribute to skill development in equal measure.

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Speaking Skills Through Storytelling

When children tell a story, they work on several speaking skills at once. They need to speak clearly so others can follow along. They learn to change their tone and pace to match what is happening in the story. A whisper might suit a moment when a character is hiding, while a faster, louder delivery fits a chase scene.

Organising thoughts is another part of this. A story needs a beginning, middle and end, and children must decide which details matter and which ones to leave out. This kind of thinking helps them structure their ideas more generally, not just in storytelling.

There is also the matter of audience awareness. When telling a story to classmates, children start to notice whether their listeners are following along or losing interest. Over time, they learn to adjust how they speak based on who is listening. This can support their communication skills throughout school and in everyday situations.

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Listening and Learning from Others

Listening to stories told by adults or other children is just as valuable as telling them. Children practise focusing their attention for longer stretches of time. They pick out the main events in a story and remember key details, which helps with comprehension and recall.

Listening also gives children examples to learn from. When they hear how a teacher or parent uses different voices for characters, or pauses for effect, they absorb these techniques. Later, when it is their turn to tell a story, they may try out similar approaches.

Group storytelling activities add another layer. Children may take turns adding to a shared story, which means they need to listen carefully to what came before so their contribution makes sense. This builds both listening skills and an understanding of how conversations and group discussions work.

Practical Ways to Encourage Storytelling

Parents and carers can support storytelling without any special equipment or training. A few straightforward approaches tend to work well:

• Ask children to retell a favourite book or film in their own words. This practises sequencing and recall.
• Tell stories together, with each person adding a sentence or two. This keeps children listening and thinking about what comes next.
• Use picture prompts or toys as starting points. A few objects can spark ideas for characters and events.
• Let children record themselves telling a story using a phone or tablet. Playing it back can help them notice their own speaking habits and builds familiarity with digital tools.
• Read aloud regularly. Hearing stories told well gives children a model to follow.

For children with additional needs or those learning English as an additional language, storytelling offers particular benefits. Visual prompts, repetition and the freedom to contribute at their own pace can make storytelling an inclusive activity that builds confidence alongside language skills.

Schools often include storytelling in English lessons, drama activities and circle time, sometimes linking it to topics in history or science. The English National Curriculum sets out spoken language skills for Key Stage 1 in its spoken language section, covering areas such as articulation and listening comprehension. Further details on curriculum expectations can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Storytelling does not require perfection. Children may muddle their words, lose track of the plot or get distracted. When this happens, gentle prompts and encouragement help more than correction. What matters is that they have regular chances to practise, with adults who listen patiently and respond with interest.

Over time, children who tell and hear stories regularly tend to become more confident speakers and more attentive listeners. These are skills that carry across every subject and into everyday life.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Homework Timetable Builder lets you turn your subjects, deadlines and free time into a clear, realistic homework and revision timetable so nothing gets left to the last minute. Try it now →