The Importance of Storytelling – How reading supports SEL

Most kids (and adults) enjoy a well-told story—but did you know interactive storytelling also supports social-emotional learning (SEL) and the development of literacy skills? That’s right—sharing stories actually teaches children to build relationships, selfregulate behavior, listen attentively and communicate effectively. Interactive storytelling also inspires imagination, improves academic performance and boosts mental wellness. That’s some pretty important stuff!

According to CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning), SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

There are countless reasons to spend dedicated time each day sharing stories, reading books and engaging with your children. If you’re not sure how to get started, read on for expert tips to improve storytelling skills.

What is interactive storytelling? Know that there is nothing wrong with reading books to children in a straightforward manner. That said, it’s easy (and fun) to maximize the storytelling experience by making a few relatively minor adjustments.

The main goal is to actively involve children in the storytelling process, instead of just reading the words on the page. Danielle Dietz-Harris, a speech-language pathologist at Pathways.org, describes interactive storytelling as a reading technique that includes commenting, asking questions, responding and giving children adequate time to respond.

“To boost the impact of your read aloud time at home, parents can take their time going through the story and include the child as an active participant,” explains Kaydon Schanberger, Director of the Educational Psychology Department at San Diego Kids First. “Pause, look at the pictures and ask about what they are seeing. Take time to read the facial expressions and body language of the characters. Parents can also ask questions that offer opportunities for children to make inferences, draw conclusions or set predictions.”

Why is interactive storytelling important?

“Reading aloud and storytelling are important components of your child’s social and emotional development,” says Schanberger. “They can help build a child’s ability to understand and practice empathy, social-awareness and relationship skills through the nonthreatening lens of a character. This provides an opportunity to practice common social issues before or after they occur.”

Schanberger adds that interactive storytelling helps children better understand different situations, experiences and social norms that may be complex or confusing. It provides a model for navigating relatable experiences with successful outcomes, allowing children to prepare for new experiences or upcoming changes.

To learn more about SEL, visit www.sdcoe.net/students/healthwell-being/virtual-wellness-center/ social-emotional-learning.

How can parents improve interactive storytelling skills?

To advance your own storytelling skills, Dietz-Harris suggests introducing new books with an interactive “picture walk” before reading the actual story. Engaging with a child in this way builds interest in the story, previews concepts and vocabulary, and ultimately improves the read-aloud experience. During a second book exposure, she recommends reading some of the pages aloud while continuing to discuss

More Resources

Register for a free library card at your local library or visit www.sandiego.gov/public-library/services/lending/librarycard.

Parents of toddlers and preschoolers may wish to join 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, a free literacy program through San Diego Public Library. For more information, go to www.sandiego.gov/1000books.

the pictures and events the child remembers from the initial exposure.

To further improve storytelling skills:

• Notice what the child is interested in on the page; then comment on it.

• Wait for their response.

• Repeat their response and add a little more information.

• Ask questions.

• Predict what will happen next.

• Relate storybook events to your own lives.

• Role-play or act out the story with your child.

• Use props like puppets or stuffed animals to tell the story.

“Kids learn many things from stories, including cause and effect, the rules of a language (syntax/grammar), and appropriate moral and ethical behavior,” says Dietz-Harris. “I think the biggest takeaway for interactive storytelling is making sure it is a fun experience for children in which they feel included, not where an adult is simply reading wordfor-word without any interaction.”

Schanberger suggests asking children any of the following questions while reading:

• Do you see their faces, what do you think they are feeling?

• Can you make that face, too?

• What is her body language telling us?

• What thought bubbles might she have?

• Why do you think that hurt his feelings?

• How do you think he will react?

• How do you think they can fix it?

• What do you think will happen if they do ____?

• Have you ever had a friend do ____?

• What do you think they should do next?

For additional read-aloud strategies, visit www.smartreading.org/strategiesfor-reading-aloud-with-children.

What else should parents keep in mind?

Sharing stories is an important way to connect. Most kids love participating in interactive story time sessions, so always keep the focus on having fun. Create different voices for the characters, let kids turn the pages and find creative ways to make the story come alive.

Since regular exposure to reading is best, most experts recommend embedding story time into your daily routine, such as before naps or at bedtime. Evaluate what works best for your family, then cuddle up for some quality time together.

Children often enjoy re-reading favorite books. That’s great, but it’s also important to introduce new stories for further social-emotional learning and literacy development. Create a bookrich environment with regular visits to the library. Be sure to let children select books that appeal to them. v

Lisa Pawlak is a contributing writer who lives in Encinitas with her family.

Pam Molnar