The Power of Storytelling with and for Children
Stories are the heartbeat of childhood. They captivate, inspire, and provide a safe space for children to explore their world. Whether told through spoken word, picture books, or small-world play, storytelling is a powerful tool that supports children's emotional, social, and cognitive development. At Orenda Circle, storytelling is a core part of our practice, offering a rich way to connect with children and support their growth.
At Orenda Circle, storytelling is woven into the fabric of our daily rhythms. Through stories, children make sense of their experiences, build connections with others, and develop a rich language for expressing themselves. Stories help children process emotions, understand their world, and find meaning in both ordinary and extraordinary moments. They support language and communication development by enhancing vocabulary, sentence structure, and the ability to express thoughts. Engaging with stories fosters empathy, as children step into different perspectives and nurture kindness and emotional intelligence. Storytelling also sparks imagination and creativity, encouraging children to dream, create, and bring new ideas to life.
Storytelling is a valuable tool for launching new provocations, introducing projects, reinforcing ongoing learning, and deepening engagement. Beyond this, storytelling supports safety and risk awareness. For example, before an excursion, we might share a story about a trip to the beach, weaving in details about tides, sharp shells, and sun safety, helping children anticipate and navigate real-life situations.
Storytelling at Orenda Circle is both intentional and interactive. We use it to explore social concepts such as kindness, fairness, and inclusion. If children are struggling with turn-taking, we might tell a story about a group of animals who learn to share a special fruit, creating a gentle and engaging way to reflect on behaviour and relationships. Stories also introduce and extend inquiries. If the children have been curious about bees, we might craft a story about a little bee searching for the best flowers, subtly weaving in knowledge about pollination and the environment. Similarly, if we are embarking on a nature walk, we may first tell a story about a character exploring the same landscape, encountering hazards and wonders, helping the children prepare for what they might see and experience.
One of the reasons storytelling is so central to our approach is that it works exceptionally well in our multi-age environment. With 17 children of varying ages, capturing and holding attention can be challenging, and traditional book reading in large groups often leads to distractions and crowd control. While books are a wonderful tool, they are best suited for small-group reading, where everyone can closely observe the pictures and engage at their own level. Storytelling, on the other hand, allows for full engagement of the entire group. Without the constraints of a book’s physical pages, we can create immersive, dynamic experiences that are more interactive and responsive to the children's reactions. Children can contribute to the story, act out parts, and experience the narrative in a way that feels alive and inclusive for all ages. Younger children, who may struggle with sustained attention during other activities, become captivated by the rhythm, voice modulation, and sensory elements of storytelling. The use of props, natural materials, and small-world play further enhances engagement, making it accessible for all learners regardless of age or developmental stage.
A recent example in our Thursday group involved exploring marine life and focusing on endangered animals after discovering an endangered sea star at the beach. One child, having been reading a book with an educator about other endangered animals, reflected on the history of the thylacine and said, "I would say, stop, go away, that's not your forest, it's theirs." He began discussing what it means to be a wildlife warrior, inspired by a show about Steve Irwin. This insight was later reinforced through a small-world story made up by an educator, featuring a little boy who helped various animals along his walk. He freed an octopus tangled in rubbish, stopped someone from chopping down a tree where a koala lived, and guided other creatures to safety. The story allowed the children to connect with the initial thoughts of the one child and led to a discussion about protecting animals. This is just one example of how we create opportunities for deeper reflection and collective learning through storytelling.
While our approach is uniquely our own, it is influenced by Steiner traditions in its ritualistic elements. We begin stories with a song and often light a candle, signalling a special and focused time. This ritual helps children transition into a storytelling mindset, fostering a sense of anticipation and wonder. The aesthetic of our storytelling matters, we create beautiful, inviting story scenes using natural materials, simple props, and thoughtful gestures to engage the senses and spark curiosity. While we are inspired by Steiner’s influence, we adapt the approach to make storytelling interactive, inviting children to co-create the stories with us. Through small-world play, oral storytelling circles, and interactive tales, children help shape the narrative, adding their own voices, characters, and ideas. This participatory style empowers children, giving them ownership of their learning and expression. It becomes a dialogue rather than a one-way delivery, reinforcing that their ideas and imaginations are valued.
Storytelling isn’t just an individual act, it connects us as a community. In our circles, we share collective stories that evolve with each telling. These shared narratives foster belonging and create a sense of continuity in our daily lives. Through seasonal stories, cultural tales, and child-led storytelling sessions, we honour traditions while allowing new ideas to flourish. Storytelling becomes a thread that ties us together, reinforcing that each voice matters. It also creates a shared language within our group, allowing children to reference past stories, build upon them, and integrate them into their daily play and interactions.
If you’re a parent or educator looking to integrate storytelling into your work with children, we invite you to explore our online webinar: The Power of Storytelling in Early Childhood. In this session, we will explore:
Practical ways to use storytelling to support children’s emotional and social development.
Techniques for co-creating stories with children.
How storytelling can be used to launch and reinforce inquiries.
The role of aesthetics, ritual, and setting in storytelling.
How to weave storytelling into everyday rhythms and learning experiences.
The benefits of storytelling in multi-age settings and how to engage diverse learners.
We’re excited to be releasing this webinar soon, alongside a collection of beautifully told, pre-recorded stories available for purchase. These resources are designed to inspire and support your own storytelling journey, whether you're at home, in a classroom, or anywhere in between. Keep an eye on our social media channels for launch details and how to access the webinar and story library. We can’t wait to share them with you!
By embracing storytelling as a daily practice, we open the door to deeper relationships, stronger language development, and an enriched sense of self for children. At Orenda Circle, storytelling is not just an activity, it is a way of being. Through our stories, we celebrate childhood, honour wonder, and cultivate a community of curious, expressive learners. We invite you to learn more about our storytelling approach in our online webinar. Stay tuned for details on how to register!