“Tell me about your day—but make some of it up.”

That was my granddaughters’ favorite prompt when they were little. It opened the door to all kinds of magical thinking: a school bus ride that detoured to the moon, a grumpy teacher who turned into a cat, chase scenes that had them leaping tall buildings. At first, these storytelling games were just a way to keep the kids entertained during a long car ride. But storytelling has been our "thing" now for several years, and I became curious about the enduring benefits of encouraging storytelling in children.

We know that childhood isn't always carefree and happy, and children encounter a wide range of difficulties, including issues with self-confidence, bullying, and struggles with learning. Building resilience—the capacity to adapt and thrive in the face of hardship—is a vital aspect of their development.

Research shows that storytelling can play a vital role in helping children develop resilience by offering them a safe space to explore emotions, navigate challenges, and connect with characters who model perseverance and problem-solving. Through stories, children learn to understand their own experiences, build empathy, and strengthen their sense of identity and belonging. In both classroom and therapeutic settings, storytelling becomes more than entertainment—it becomes a pathway for emotional growth and psychological strength.^[1] When children tell stories, they’re making sense of the world and developing a stronger sense of agency.

How to Encourage Kids to Tell Stories

Writing stories with kids just takes a few simple prompts to get going. 

Start with a “What if…”

Ask: What if a puppy ran the post office? What if the moon got stuck in a tree? Let the idea be wild. The sillier, the better.

Take turns adding to the story

One sentence at a time. You: “Once there was a squirrel named Benny.”

Child: “He was afraid of acorns.”

You: “So he started collecting pinecones instead…”

This back-and-forth builds listening skills and a sense of co-creation.

Make Room for the Child's Unique Interests

Some kids prefer to show rather than tell. Invite them to illustrate scenes, characters, or even “covers” for their story. Drawing helps them visualize ideas and deepen their storytelling. 

Some kids love to be the characters in their stories and ham it up. Supply the materials for costume-making and let them add the drama. Acting out a story helps young children internalize narrative structure by engaging their bodies, voices, and imaginations all at once.

Honor the finished product

Write it down. Type it up. Film the performance. Bundle their drawings with printed text and staple it into a book. Celebrate the story they helped create. That validation goes a long way toward nurturing self-esteem and creative pride.

Encourage, Don’t Edit or Critique

When children write or tell stories, the goal isn’t to “fix” the narrative or pass judgment in any way. That's the quickest way to quash self-expression and take the fun out of it. Resist the urge to correct grammar or make the story make sense. Let it be weird. Let it wander. That’s where the magic (and the meaning) often lives. Stand down and let the child lead.

When we make space for children to tell stories, we’re doing more than building writers. We’re building emotionally intelligent, curious, resilient human beings.

So grab a notebook, sit shoulder to shoulder, and ask: What if...?

[1] Ramamurthy, C., Zuo, P., Armstrong, G., & Andriessen, K. (2024). The impact of storytelling on building resilience in children: A systematic review. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 31(4), 525–542. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.13008