The impact of storytelling on a growing child
Storytelling is the social and cultural activity of sharing stories...
Storytelling is the social and cultural activity of sharing stories, sometimes with improvisation, theatrics, or embellishment. It offers several use cases beyond creative writing, marketing, and media — becoming a powerful ally in education. From boosting children's learning experience and contributing to language development, to enhancing verbal skills to expanding vocabulary and encouraging the expression of thoughts and ideas, storytelling has many benefits for early childhood development.
Play and storytelling: Supporting relationships and communication
Play is the language of all children. For example, pretend play or vocabulary-building activities contribute to language development, enhance children's verbal skills, expand vocabulary, and encourage the expression of thoughts and ideas.
Play is the language of all children. For example, pretend play or vocabulary-building activities contribute to language development...
Parents have a crucial role in facilitating storytelling and play, especially for children who may have difficulty expressing themselves due to stress or communication barriers. By participating in this play, parents can empower their children to broaden their ability to express themselves, understand new situations, and share ideas and memories, fostering a strong bond and aiding in their child's development.
Storytelling in education: Best practices and main benefits
Technology has opened doors to personalised learning experiences that engage children meaningfully and enhance their development. In the realm of storytelling for education, the best practices involve incorporating elements that engage students, enhance comprehension, and promote retention. Above all, effective storytelling should be relevant to the student's experiences and interests, making the content more relatable and meaningful, and inspiring educators to create engaging narratives.
There are several startups that offer solutions to support parents and caregivers, educators, and therapists. For example, Apolo Kids (formerly Kokoro Kids), has developed a brain training app designed by neurodevelopmental experts. It leverages AI, neurological theories, and educational psychology to help children aged 2 to 6 years achieve their potential through play-based adaptive learning and creating a personalised learning schedule.
Storybutton offers a screenless audio player to children for listening to various audio content, including podcasts, audiobooks, and original stories. The solution promotes healthier listening habits and reduces screen time by focusing on the audio experience, encouraging children to listen more and engage in imaginative play. Furthermore, Storytailor.ai is an AI-powered platform designed to create personalised, inclusive, and educational stories for children aged 3 to 8, allowing parents, educators, and child therapists to craft unique stories tailored to each child's interests, needs, and backgrounds catered to specific targets, such as education, emotional growth, and language learning. The customised narrative created by Storytailor.ai aims to enhance the reading experience and foster a love for reading.
Narratives for children can help by making complex concepts easier to grasp and creating relatable tales that help them better understand certain subjects. For example, the recently launched specialised best practices guide for covering children-related news is an important step in recognising the impact of narratives built toward children.
Impact of personalised learning experiences
Using a clear and structured narrative arc helps maintain children’s attention and aids in their understanding of complex concepts. Visual aids, such as images, videos, and infographics, can reinforce the story and cater to different learning styles. Encouraging interactive participation through questions, discussions, and activities allows students to immerse themselves in the story and apply their learning practically.
By integrating these practices, educators can create a dynamic and engaging learning experience that supports deeper cognitive and emotional connections to the material. By leveraging advanced technologies and innovative methodologies, ECA initiatives focus on tailoring education to meet the unique needs of each child. Programs such as the Anjal Z Techstars Founder Catalyst Program support startups in developing customised educational tools and resources, ensuring children receive individualised attention and support.
These personalised learning experiences help foster cognitive and emotional development, enhance engagement and promote a love for learning from an early age. ECA's commitment to personalised learning addresses diverse educational needs and sets a strong foundation for lifelong success and well-being for children across Abu Dhabi and beyond.
- Maryam A. Hassani is Acting Head of Trends and Innovation at the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA)