The best examples of storytelling techniques for young children (with real-life ideas)

Before we talk theory, let’s start with what this looks like in real life. Here are some natural, everyday examples of storytelling techniques for young children you might already be using without even naming them.

Picture this: You’re in the car with a preschooler. Instead of putting on a show, you say, “Once upon a time, there was a car that didn’t like red lights…” and you build a silly story each time you stop. Or you’re in the kitchen, and you narrate your actions like a cooking show: “The brave chef opened the fridge and found… a lonely carrot!” These are simple, powerful examples of how storytelling can weave into daily routines and strengthen language, imagination, and connection.

What follows are the best examples of storytelling techniques for young children, broken into friendly, usable ideas. You can mix and match them based on your child’s age, attention span, and mood.

Interactive storytelling: letting kids co-create the story

One of the strongest examples of examples of storytelling techniques for young children is interactive storytelling, where the child helps shape what happens next.

You might start with a simple line: “There was a little dog who wanted to fly…” Then you pause and ask, “What should we name the dog?” or “How do you think the dog could learn to fly?” Every time the child answers, you fold their idea into the story.

This technique:

• Builds vocabulary and expressive language
• Supports turn-taking and conversation skills
• Boosts confidence, because the child’s ideas matter

Teachers often use this approach during circle time. A classic example of this storytelling technique in preschool is the “class story,” where the adult writes children’s ideas on chart paper as they dictate the next part of the tale. Programs inspired by approaches like the HighScope and Reggio Emilia methods regularly use child-led storytelling to support early literacy and creativity.

For more on why back-and-forth conversation matters for language development, the Harvard Center on the Developing Child explains the science of “serve and return” interactions here: https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/serve-and-return/

Storytelling with props: toys, puppets, and random household objects

Another very practical example of storytelling techniques for young children is using props. Kids don’t need fancy materials; a spoon can become a rocket ship, and a sock can become a dragon.

Here’s a real example. You grab three items from around the room: a spoon, a stuffed animal, and a shoe. You tell the child, “These are our story characters. Let’s find out what adventure they go on today.” Maybe the spoon is the hero, the shoe is the grumpy neighbor, and the stuffed animal needs help finding its home.

Examples include:

• Using puppets or stuffed animals to “act out” a favorite storybook
• Turning bath toys into characters in a water adventure
• Using building blocks to create a setting (castle, zoo, city) and then telling a story about who lives there

These concrete objects give young children something to focus on, which is especially helpful for toddlers and kids who are still developing attention skills. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has long highlighted the value of dramatic play and storytelling with props in early learning: https://www.naeyc.org/resources/topics/play

Visual storytelling: picture walks and wordless books

If you’re looking for a very gentle example of storytelling techniques for young children, try visual storytelling. This works beautifully with toddlers, English language learners, and kids who are shy about speaking.

A picture walk means you look through the pages of a book before reading the text. You and the child talk about what you see in the pictures and predict what might happen. You’re not reading yet—you’re telling the story with your own words.

Wordless picture books are another of the best examples of this technique. With no printed text, the child is free to invent the story based on the illustrations. You can:

• Take turns “reading” each page
• Ask open-ended questions like, “What do you think is happening here?”
• Encourage sound effects, facial expressions, and gestures

The American Library Association and many public libraries recommend wordless books as powerful tools for early literacy, because they build narrative skills and comprehension long before formal reading begins.

Sensory storytelling: using sound, movement, and touch

Young children learn with their whole bodies. Sensory-rich storytelling is a wonderful example of examples of storytelling techniques for young children that meets them where they are.

Instead of just telling a story, you add:

• Sound effects: whooshing wind, roaring dragons, ticking clocks
• Movements: stomping like a giant, tiptoeing like a mouse
• Touch: patting the floor for rain, rubbing hands together for wind

Here’s a real example of this storytelling technique in preschool: The teacher tells a story about a storm. Whenever it “rains,” the children tap their knees. When the wind blows, they wave their arms. When the sun comes out, they stretch tall. Suddenly, the story is not just heard; it’s felt.

This kind of multimodal storytelling lines up with what we know about early brain development and sensory experiences. The CDC’s developmental milestones emphasize how young children learn through play, movement, and exploration: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html

Repetitive and patterned stories: building confidence through predictability

Some of the best examples of storytelling techniques for young children are incredibly simple: stories with repeating lines, predictable patterns, and familiar phrases.

Think of stories where the same sentence comes up over and over: “But the little duck said, ‘I can do it myself!’” or “And every time, the bear said, ‘Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin!’” Children quickly catch on and start joining in.

Real examples include:

• Adding a repeating chorus kids can shout together
• Using a simple “First… then… next… finally…” pattern
• Retelling favorite folktales with the same familiar phrases every time

This kind of patterned storytelling supports memory, sequencing, and early narrative skills. It also gives quieter kids a safe way to participate, because they know exactly what to say and when.

Storytelling from real life: family stories and daily routines

Not every story needs dragons or fairies. One of the most meaningful examples of storytelling techniques for young children is simple family storytelling.

You might say, “When I was your age, I was afraid of the dark too,” and then tell a short, honest story about how you handled it. Or you might turn your daily routine into a story: “Every morning, there was a kid named Maya who had a big job: getting ready for school. First, she had to find her shoes…”

Examples include:

• Telling stories about when you were in kindergarten
• Sharing stories about grandparents or family traditions
• Turning a recent event (a trip to the park, a visit to the doctor) into a beginning–middle–end story

These real-life stories help children make sense of their own experiences and build emotional vocabulary. Research shared by organizations like Zero to Three highlights how storytelling about feelings and experiences supports social-emotional development: https://www.zerotothree.org

Digital-age storytelling: using tech thoughtfully in 2024–2025

In 2024–2025, many kids are hearing stories through screens as well as books and voices. Used thoughtfully, digital tools can offer new examples of storytelling techniques for young children—without replacing the warmth of a live storyteller.

Some real examples include:

• Audio stories or podcasts for kids during car rides, followed by a simple retell: “What happened first? What happened next?”
• Interactive story apps where children choose what the character does next (with an adult guiding and talking about choices)
• Video calls with grandparents who tell a bedtime story live

The key is to keep interaction at the center. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that adults co-view and co-play when using digital media with young children, turning screen time into shared story time and conversation: https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/

When you talk, ask questions, and invite the child to respond, even digital stories can become strong examples of storytelling techniques that build language and connection.

Storytelling games: playful structures that spark imagination

Sometimes kids need a little structure to get started. Storytelling games are playful examples of examples of storytelling techniques for young children that give just enough guidance without boxing them in.

You can:

• Use story dice or homemade picture cards. Each roll or card adds a new character, setting, or problem.
• Play “Fortunately / Unfortunately,” where you take turns adding good and bad twists: “Fortunately, the cat found a map. Unfortunately, it was upside down…”
• Start a story with one sentence and go around the circle, each person adding one more sentence.

These games are the best examples of how storytelling can feel like play rather than a lesson. They build flexibility, creativity, and narrative skills, and they work in classrooms, therapy sessions, and family gatherings.

Adapting storytelling techniques for different ages and needs

One powerful thing about all these examples of storytelling techniques for young children is how adjustable they are.

For toddlers:

• Keep stories very short and concrete
• Use lots of repetition, sound effects, and movement
• Focus on familiar routines and objects

For preschoolers:

• Add simple problems and solutions to the story
• Invite them to name characters and choose what happens next
• Use props, picture walks, and story games

For early elementary kids:

• Introduce more complex plots and emotions
• Encourage them to retell stories in their own words
• Let them “publish” their stories by drawing, writing, or recording them

For children with language delays or sensory differences, visual supports, props, and predictable patterns can make storytelling more accessible. Speech-language pathologists often use these same examples of storytelling techniques for young children in therapy because they support both language and social skills.

FAQ: examples of storytelling techniques for young children

Q: What are some simple examples of storytelling techniques for young children I can use at bedtime?
At bedtime, try a short “three-part” story: a character, a small problem, and a gentle solution. For example: “There was a little bunny who couldn’t find his favorite blanket…” Add a repeating line the child can say with you, like, “But I’m brave enough to try!” You can also retell the child’s day as a cozy story: “Once upon a time, there was a kid who went to the park…”

Q: Can you give an example of a storytelling activity that works well in a classroom circle time?
One strong example of a classroom storytelling technique is the group story. The teacher starts: “One day, our class found a mysterious box…” Then each child adds one sentence. The adult writes the sentences on chart paper and reads the finished story aloud. This activity supports listening, turn-taking, and early writing concepts.

Q: How often should I use these storytelling techniques with young children?
You don’t need a set schedule. Instead, look for natural pockets in the day—waiting rooms, car rides, bath time, snack time. Using even one or two of these examples of storytelling techniques for young children a day can make a noticeable difference in vocabulary, attention, and connection.

Q: Do I need to be a “good storyteller” for these examples to work?
You don’t need to be dramatic or theatrical. Children care far more about your presence and attention than your performance. Simple, honest stories told in your normal voice are often the best examples of storytelling techniques for young children. The goal is connection and language practice, not perfection.

Q: Are digital stories and apps okay for young children’s storytelling?
They can be, especially when used together with an adult. The strongest examples include pausing to ask questions, predicting what will happen next, and retelling the story in your own words. When you stay engaged, digital tools become one more way to share stories, not a replacement for you.

When you look at all these real examples of examples of storytelling techniques for young children—from puppet adventures to family stories to digital tales—the pattern is clear: kids thrive when stories are interactive, playful, and connected to real life. You don’t need perfect plots or fancy materials. You just need a willing child, a few minutes, and the courage to say, “Once upon a time…” and see where it leads.