Storytelling walks are an excellent activity for children, combining the benefits of outdoor exploration with the creativity of storytelling. The idea is to encourage children to get outside and engage in physical activity while simultaneously crafting a story that can be read aloud. This activity not only promotes physical health but also stimulates imagination and language skills. All you need is an open space where you can take a walk and a vivid imagination to create captivating stories along the way. Whether it's a park, a forest, or even a beach, the possibilities for adventure and creativity are endless.
When on a walk with your little one, begin to tell a story and then ask them to continue the story at a dramatic moment. For example, you might start with, "One day I went to sleep and woke up to discover that I was much taller than my dad. The first thing I did was…" This sets the stage for an exciting adventure. Encourage your child to think creatively and come up with unexpected twists and turns. They might say, "The first thing I did was reach for the tallest tree branch and swing from it like a monkey!" This not only engages their imagination but also makes the walk more interactive and fun.
After your child describes what happens next, you take your turn again, adding more detail to the story. Perhaps you continue with, "As I swung from the tree branch, I noticed a hidden treehouse that seemed to be calling my name." Take turns with your child, each adding elements to the story.
Use the surrounding area that you are in to include in your story. Look around you and ask your child what they can see, then ask them to incorporate these elements into the story. For instance, if you see a squirrel running up a tree, you might say, "Suddenly, a squirrel appeared and offered us a map to a hidden treasure." Encourage your child to look at nature, the weather, and any animals they can see, and try to include these observations in the story.
Going on a storytelling walk combines the pleasures of reading wonderful children’s books aloud with all the joys and benefits of walking together outdoors. Believed as a way to inspire parents, teachers, and other adults to take young children outdoors to enjoy reading stories together, storytelling walks help build children’s interest in reading while encouraging healthy outdoor activity for both children and their grown-ups.
Encourage your little one to expand their imaginations and create interesting stories to tell whilst on the walk. Talk to them about what is happening in the story, who is in their story and why these things are happening in the story. Support this by using your imagination to create an even more exciting story. You can enrich their vocabulary development with related words such as:
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