Storytelling with Kids

My 3 year old Daughter loves when we tell her stories. As I craft an original tale, I usually take a moment to let her have an input in our storytelling adventure.  I might ask her what the name of a character should be or where they are going to go or who they will encounter.  There are times when she just wants stories told about characters from her favorite children's show.  One day I started telling her a story about a pesky cat who loves to pester the neighbor dog.  She loves to name dolls and cats Bob, so the cat became Bob and I named the dog, Barkley.  Since that first story I have told her a zillion stories about these beloved (by us) fictional pets.  Below I have included one sample story about Bob the Cat and Barkley the Dog. I encourage you to create stories with your child too. Enjoy!

Bob & Barkley 
by Mom On Middle

Bob the Cat woke up from a nap and arched his back.  He hopped off the windowsill and sauntered into the kitchen. After getting a drink and something to eat, he decided to go outside. Out the cat door he went and peered through the garden fence.  He saw Barkley pacing around his house.  Bob shook his head.  'What is that dog up to now?' he wondered.  Bob loved to irritate Barkley, it was almost his sole purpose since he moved in next door.

Barkley saw Bob coming and immediately laid down at the opening of his dog house.  He didn't particularly like Bob, but he was feeling a little bored at the moment and Bob was a good diversion.  Barkley laid his head down on his front legs.  Bob hopped on top of Barkely's house hovering over the poor dog.  He started to pace imitating Barkley's earlier actions.  Barkley ignored him for a few minutes. 

Bob wanted to startle Barkley so he hopped down hard right in front of the dog's nose.  This usually would prompt Barkley to hop up and chase after Bob, but today he just didn't have it in him.  Bob reached out his paw and batted at the dog.  Barkley just turned his head and made a loud sigh.  Bob got bored and started to head home.  

That moment a car pulled into Barkley's driveway.  Bob watched as the dog stood up, ran in circles and  instantly cheered up.  Bob realized that the dog missed his family.  He could understand that.  Today he would leave the poor dog alone, but tomorrow was another story.

The End.

To turn an oral story into a playful experience you could incorporate puppets or props into the storytelling.  Listening to stories helps build up your child's language skills and adding the puppets would help them retell the story and build up their imaginations.

Do you tell stories to your children?  What kind of stories do you tell?