We love telling stories at Great Wolf Lodge! It’s a great way to educate the kids on new concepts, spend quality time as a family, and create lasting traditions. Storytelling is also a wonderful way to challenge the developing mind. Studies have found that it helps children develop a sense of empathy, expand their imagination and develop their listening skills.
Clearly, storytelling lends itself to lots of perks. Still, there is such thing as too much of a good thing. Without introducing new and unique ways to approach the activity, things can get a little stale. That’s why we’ve put together a few storytelling activities for kids. Check out the information below to get started!
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6 Storytelling Games for Kids
Explore these game ideas and activities to keep storytelling time from getting old!
1. Story Box
Time to put the book down! The first storytelling activity on our list is all about creating a stage. To construct your story box, you’ll need an old shoebox. Cut the edges so that one side flaps down as if creating a stage. You can fold this up once you’re done playing and tuck inside the lid.
Paint the inside of the box to reflect the story you want to tell. If it takes place in a forest, think about painting a green base and blue sky around the sides. Once the paint dries, you can create clouds using cotton balls.
From there, you can start working on additional details. You can roll up construction paper to make trees, or cut out different shapes to assemble a house. Secure them in place using tape or glue. You can also use a few finger puppets to represent your characters.
Once your box is complete, you can start playing! Assign each family member a character and act out the pages.
2. Story Stones
Onto our next fun storytelling activity! For this one, you’ll need to send the kids out to the backyard to find small, smooth rocks. These will be your “story stones.” If you don’t have access to a wooded area, you can purchase the stones at a local craft store.
You can use stickers, paint, or printouts to decorate your story stones. Designate some to represent the characters, a few others to the setting, problem, objects, and so on. That way, you can use the story stones to create a full narrative.
Divvy your story stones up by category. Ask the kid to grab one from each section to come up with an original story. If you want, you can even assign a designated theme. Are you creating fairy tales, adventure stories, mysteries, or something else?
3. Rory’s Story Cubes
The next idea on our list comes from Melissa Taylor, mom, blogger, and founder of the educational learning community, Imagination Soup. These nine-sided story die can add some amazing variety to your storytelling routine. Each contains an assortment of black-and-white images that can help tell a story.
4. Story Cards
Storymatic Kids Cards are another way to elevate your storytelling fun! It works like this: each player must draw two yellow cards. Combine the descriptions listed to come up with your main character. For instance, if one says “clown” and the other says “person who loves toast,” then your main character will be a clown who loves toast!
Then, draw a blue card. This will tell you the setting for your story. Maybe it says something like “spelling bee.” What’s the story there? Was your clown late for the competition because he was busy eating breakfast? Does he even know how to spell toast? Remember, the cards operate as building blocks for your stories. The more creative you get with this storytelling game, the better!
5. Storytelling Board Game
This storytelling board game is a great way to help the kids learn new words, practice their spelling, and elevate their creative storytelling skills! You just need to wind the buzzer up and pick out a random card from the stack. Use these story starters to come up with something truly unique. Players have until the timer runs out to finish. This game is great for ages 5 and up.
6. Story Stick
The fun isn’t over yet! The next activity on our list is sure to provide an experience the kids won’t soon forget. It’s also a great one for teachers to introduce to students who are just learning to read. Gather the kids in a circle. Provide them with some kind of setting to help get them started. Pass your story stick around so that everyone gets a chance to contribute to the story. If you get a child who is somewhat unsure of how to tell a story, help them along by asking a few questions like, “What image do you want to describe?” or “What happened next?”
Storytelling With Great Wolf Lodge
We hope you enjoyed our storytelling games for kids! Don’t forget to check out this article for more tips. Your kids are sure to become master storytellers in no time! If you’re looking for more things to do with your family, be sure to check out the rest of our blog. Each week, we post new and original activities for kids.
You can also visit us at the lodge! Each night, we invite our guests down to the lobby for bedtime stories about the Great Wolf Kids characters. Before sure to reserve your spot before your visit. To learn more about Story Time or any other lodge activities, head over to our main site.
FAQ
What is a storytelling activity?
Storytelling games or activities for kids play a critical role in helping kids develop their reading, writing, and language skills. In fact, speech therapists often rely on storytelling as a way to help kids with articulation, practice target sounds, and their overall brain development. The idea is to provide new ways for kids to verbally explore different topics, ideas, and themes.
What are the 4 P’s of storytelling?
The 4 P’s of storytelling include people, place, plot, and purpose. These are essential elements that help keep the story running smoothly while maintaining interest.
What are some storytelling techniques?
Some of the most popular storytelling ideas revolve around telling a personal story, creating suspense, showing (not telling), and bringing your characters to life.
