Helping to develop your child’s stories #1

The key idea this week is that to make a story you need:

• ‘who’ words
• ‘where’ words
• ‘when’ words
• ‘what doing’ words and
• ‘end’ words. 

Storytelling Practice:

• Ask your child to identify different types of information in a story using the story words e.g. in the story “Daddy and I went to the cinema last night. We saw a very funny film and then ate fish and chips. I was tired but happy when I got home.” Your child could pick out: who words (daddy and I), where words (cinema), when words (last night), what doing words (saw a funny film, ate fish and chips), and end words (I was tired but happy).

oMake it easier: Miss out some of the story words. For example, when words are not always necessary and can be hard for children to understand. Give lots of help and ideas of what can go in each category.

oMake it harder: Include why questions. Make sure your child comes up with an example from each category. Ask your child to make up their own simple story and support them by using your version as a starting point.

• Group story. Make up a story together using the story words (when, who, where, what doing, the end). Take turns adding one story part to your shared story. Give your child examples if needed and go over the story you and your child are saying as you build up the story together.

oMake it easier: Miss out specific story words. When and why questions are harder and not always necessary. Give lots of help and ideas of what can go in each category. Some children might need to be given choices for each option.

oMake it harder: Include why questions. Give less help to build up the story.