Story Telling

About this activity

How to Use the Storytelling Cards

Our storytelling cards are designed to make storytelling simple, playful, and child-led. They support communication, imagination, and confidence — with no right or wrong answers.

Step 1: Prepare the Cards

Print the storytelling cards, cut them out, and (if possible) laminate them for durability. Store them in a small box, envelope, or story bag so they’re easy for children to access.

Step 2: Choose a Starting Card

Sit together in a cosy space. Ask the child to pick one card to begin the story. This might be a character, a place, an object, or a feeling.

Encourage them to start with a simple sentence, such as:

- “Once there was a…”

- “One day, a…”

- “In a forest / house / beach…”

Step 3: Build the Story Together

Take turns picking cards, one at a time. Each card adds something new to the story:

- A character joins the adventure

- A setting tells us where the story happens

- An object becomes important

- A feeling shows how the character feels

Adults can gently support by asking open questions:

- “What happens next?”

- “How does the character feel?”

- “What do you think they should do?”

Step 4: Keep It Playful

Stories can be:

- Very short or long

- Silly or calm

- Repeated again and again

Children can change their minds, skip cards, or pick the same card more than once. The aim is fun, not perfection.

Step 5: Extend the Learning

After storytelling, children may enjoy:

- Drawing a picture from the story

- Acting it out using toys or puppets

- Retelling the story to a friend

- Making up a new ending

Why Storytelling Cards Work

Using storytelling cards helps children to:

- Develop communication and language skills

- Build confidence in speaking and listening

- Use imagination and creativity

- Enjoy stories in a relaxed, pressure-free way

Perfect for Early Years settings, home learning, group time, or one-to-one play.