Discover how storytelling activities can give children a safe, imaginative way to explore feelings, express what’s happening inside and discover new ways of seeing the world.
Storytelling play is a powerful way to support children emotionally.
Over the years, I’ve watched stories do remarkable things. Sometimes they offer a little glimpse into a child’s inner world. Other times they help a child discover courage, hope or a completely new way of looking at a difficult situation. It’s one of the reasons I feel storytelling is so effective in helping children work through difficult emotions.
Which is why I was a little surprised by something I noticed recently…
As I looked through my own play therapy toolkit, I realised the storytelling section was surprisingly lacking. I had a few random books, but very few of the open-ended resources that invite children to become storytellers themselves. It felt like such a missed opportunity.
I thought back to my play therapy training when we were taught so many creative ways to inspire storytelling play—from story bags filled with intriguing objects, picture prompts, games, and even how to create short, personalised stories that support individual children through the challenges they’re facing.
So, I decided it was time to revisit some of these ideas and breathe new life into this part of my toolkit. As I explored, I thought I’d share the journey with you too, in the hope that it might inspire new, creative ways to support the emotional wellbeing of the children in your life.
In this article, we’ll explore why storytelling play is such a powerful way to help children express, explore and make sense of their feelings, before looking at some of the simple storytelling activities I’ve started to add to my own toolkit—ideas that parents, teachers, caregivers and therapists can all use or adapt to support the children in their care.
In This Post…
Often what children are feeling underneath the behaviour isn’t immediately obvious…
How Storytelling Play Helps Children Make Sense Of Their World
Stories don’t just entertain children—they help them understand themselves, other people and the world around them.
Here’s some of the ways storytelling play gently supports children’s emotional lives…
When Children Create Stories, They Show Us Their Inner World
When children invent stories, they often weave little pieces of their own world into them.
They rarely realise they’re doing it, but the characters they create, the challenges they imagine and the endings they choose often reflect something about their own thoughts, experiences, worries, hopes or way of seeing the world.
Play therapist Violet Oaklander described it like this:
“Since the child’s story is a projection, it will generally reflect something about the child’s life or situation.”
In other words, children often explore real feelings or experiences through imaginary characters. A lonely puppy, a worried rabbit or an angry dragon can sometimes echo things they’re trying to make sense of.
And as these thoughts and feelings come to the surface through their stories, it can offer gentle glimpses into a their emotional world, helping us better understand what worries, experiences or things a child may still be trying to make sense of.
When Children Hear Stories, They Discover New Ways to Understand Their Experiences
The right story, heard at the right time, can sometimes help a child see a difficult situation in a completely new way.
Children rarely enjoy being told how they should feel or what they ought to do. Stories, though, often reach children in ways that direct advice simply can’t.
As they become absorbed in a character’s journey, they can discover new ways of thinking, coping and problem-solving without ever feeling as though they’re being taught a lesson. Psychiatrist Milton Erickson recognised the power of this indirect approach, understanding that people are often more open to new ideas when they discover them for themselves.
So, a child who hears about a nervous squirrel starting at a new school, or a little bear learning to ask for help, isn’t simply being given advice. Instead, they’re invited to walk alongside the character, imagine different possibilities and discover hope in a way that feels natural. As they watch the character face challenges and find a way through them, children begin to believe that they, too, can navigate their own struggles.
Stories Feel Safer Than Talking About Difficult Feelings Directly
Children often find it much easier to explore feelings and difficult parts of their own lives through stories than to talk about them directly. A made-up character can say things that feel too big, too confusing or too vulnerable to say out loud.
Storytelling activities create just enough emotional distance for children to explore difficult feelings without feeling exposed or overwhelmed. Instead of saying, “I’m angry,” a child might describe a volcano that keeps erupting. Instead of talking about loneliness, they might invent a tiny fox who finds it hard to make friends.
Because the feelings belong to a character, children can explore them more freely. They don’t have to worry about getting the “right” answer or feeling judged. The story becomes a safe space where difficult emotions can be noticed, explored and understood at the child’s own pace.
Stories Help Children Discover Their Own Strength
When children become storytellers, they’re no longer simply listening to a story—they’re shaping it.
When they invent characters, solve problems or decide how a story ends, they get a chance to experience something that can be difficult to find in real life: a sense of choice, control and possibility. So, a child who feels powerless can create a character who is brave, resourceful or able to overcome a challenge.
By imagining themselves as the explorer, the superhero or the wise teacher, children begin to see themselves as capable too. Storytelling gently shifts them from feeling like life is happening to them towards believing they can face challenges, solve problems and shape their own story.
Sometimes that simple shift—from feeling helpless to feeling capable—is one of storytelling play’s greatest gifts
Storytelling Activities Give Children Another Language for Their Feelings
Children don’t always communicate through conversation.
They often experience big feelings they can’t yet explain long before they have the words to tell us what’s happening inside. But children are communicating all the time—we just need to know where to look…
Through their behaviour.
Through their bodies.
Through their play.
Storytelling play is simply another language children use to express what they can’t yet explain.
A child who can’t find the words to describe feeling anxious, overwhelmed or left out may still tell a story that captures those feelings perfectly.
And as children hear and create stories, they build a richer emotional vocabulary. Characters can feel disappointed, relieved, frustrated, hopeful or proud, giving children opportunities to connect words with their own inner experiences over time.
When we listen with curiosity rather than trying to solve or interpret everything, stories become another window into a child’s emotional world.
That doesn’t mean we need to analyse every character or search for hidden messages. Often, the greatest gift we can give is our attention. By listening, wondering and joining in their stories, we communicate something powerful to our children: I’m interested in your world, and I’m here to understand it alongside you.
Simple Storytelling Activities to Try at Home
There are many different types of play that support children’s emotional wellbeing. One of the lovely things about storytelling play is that it doesn’t require expensive resources or lots of preparation. Often, the simplest invitations spark the richest stories.
The goal isn’t to tell children what their story should be about. Instead, it’s to provide just enough inspiration for their imagination to take over. Here are a few gentle ways to get started.
Create a Story Bag
Fill a small bag with five to seven interesting objects. You might include a tiny animal, a toy person, a vehicle, a key, a feather, a shell or another intriguing treasure. Invite your child to pull out each object and weave them together into a story.
There is no right or wrong story. The fun lies in seeing where your child’s imagination takes them.
Make Up a Story Together
Take turns adding one sentence at a time to a story. You might throw a soft ball to decide whose turn it is, or simply take turns around the table.
Collaborative storytelling removes the pressure of having to think of a whole story alone and often leads to unexpected adventures. You may also notice recurring themes or favourite characters appearing as the story unfolds.
Use Picture Prompts
Photographs, illustrations or postcards can all become great story starters. Let your child choose an interesting picture and ask them to tell a story about it. A few gentle questions such as, “Who do you think this character is?” or “What do you think happened just before this?” may help them get going.
There is no need to guide the story. Simply follow your child’s ideas with curiosity.
Change the Ending
Choose a familiar story and wonder together what might happen if the ending were different.
What if the wolf became kind? What if the dragon was lonely rather than scary? What if the lost puppy found an unexpected helper?
Or, play a game where you have your child tell a story with a beginning, a middle and an end. It’s great if each story can have a good lesson within it. Then after the child tells their story, you must use the same characters and situation as the child’s to tell your story, but you are allowed to change the ending.
Changing endings encourages flexible thinking and reminds children that there is often more than one way for a story—or a problem—to unfold.
Create Your Own Stories
Sometimes, as adults, we can create simple stories to support our children through situations they are finding difficult. A story about a nervous squirrel starting a new forest school or a little turtle worried about sleeping away from home can gently introduce new ideas without feeling like advice or a lesson.
The aim isn’t to write the perfect story. Often, it’s simply to offer children another way of thinking about something that feels hard.
Read Stories That Support Emotional Growth
Books can be a wonderful way to introduce children to feelings, experiences and challenges they may recognise in their own lives. A story about a character who feels worried, struggles to make friends, faces a change or learns to cope with a difficult feeling can gently open conversations that might otherwise feel too hard.
Look for stories that explore themes your child may be working through, but try not to turn reading into a lesson. The power of stories often comes from allowing children to connect with a character in their own way.
After reading, you might simply wonder together: “How do you think that character felt?” or “What do you think helped them?” Sometimes a child will share their own thoughts and experiences; other times, they may simply enjoy the story. Both are valuable.
Closing Thoughts: When Storytelling Activities Become a Window Into Feelings
Storytelling play isn’t about creating perfect stories or uncovering hidden meanings. It’s about making space for imagination, connection and conversation.
As you explore these ideas together, try to let go of the need to steer the story or search for the “right” interpretation. Instead, be curious. Listen. Wonder alongside your child. Often, it’s in those shared moments of play that children feel safest to express parts of their world that are still too big for words.
My hope is that these simple storytelling activities will not only inspire wonderful stories, but also gift you little windows into your child’s thoughts, feelings and experiences.
For who knows what story a child might choose to tell—or what it might gently reveal about the world they are trying to make sense of.
If you’d like more simple, real-life ways to support your child’s emotions, I share ideas, insights, and tools like this regularly. You can join below and I’ll send them straight to your inbox.
You Might Also Find Helpful…
Understanding Your Child:
Why Kids Can’t Tell You What They’re Feeling — And How They Show You Instead
What Is Your Child’s Behaviour Really Trying To Tell You?
Discover the Power of Play:
Why Play Matters Way More Than You Think
How Different Types Of Play Support Your Child’s Emotional World
21 Powerful Play Therapy Techniques Parents Can Use at home
Build More Emotional Skills:
21 Fascinating Facts About Emotions for Kids
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