How Storytelling Boosts Early Literacy Skills in Young Children
The Power of a Simple Story
A story may seem like just words on a page, but for a child, it opens a world of wonder. Storytelling is not simply a bedtime ritual; it’s a powerful tool that lays the foundation for early literacy. Long before children begin to read or write, they absorb language, tone, rhythm, and meaning through spoken stories. These early moments become stepping stones for a child’s lifelong learning journey.
Let’s explore how storytelling plays a crucial role in early literacy development — and why it’s far more than just entertainment.
Building Language from the Ground Up
Storytelling helps children learn how language works. When they hear stories, they are exposed to a wider range of words and sentence structures than they usually hear in everyday conversation. This variety enhances language development in early childhood, helping little ones learn how to form sentences, ask questions, and understand patterns of speech.
According to the National Literacy Trust (UK), children who are read to daily are twice as likely to recognise all letters of the alphabet by age five compared to those who are not. (Source)
Benefits of Storytelling and Early Literacy Development
1. Vocabulary Building Through Stories
One of the strongest benefits of storytelling is how it grows a child’s vocabulary. Children learn new words in context — not through memorisation, but through meaningful use. A tale about a lion in the jungle or a rainy afternoon adventure introduces rich vocabulary in an engaging way.
Vocabulary building through stories makes new words stick because they are linked to emotions, characters, and actions. The more stories children hear, the more words they gain.
2. Strengthening Listening and Comprehension Skills
When listening to a story, children practise staying focused, following the flow of ideas, and making sense of what they hear. These are vital listening and comprehension skills that form the backbone of literacy.
As they listen, children begin to predict what might happen next, understand cause and effect, and follow the structure of a story from beginning to end. These experiences help them prepare for reading on their own.
3. Reading Readiness Begins with Storytime
Reading readiness skills are all the abilities a child needs before they can read independently. Storytelling supports these skills by teaching children that words have meaning, books follow a left-to-right pattern, and stories have a beginning, middle, and end.
They also learn to connect sounds to words and recognise familiar phrases. For instance, repeated lines like “Run, run, as fast as you can…” help children anticipate and recall, making them active participants in the storytelling process.
4. Supporting Cognitive Development in Preschoolers
Storytelling encourages thinking skills. As children listen, they process information, solve problems, and understand different perspectives. This nurtures cognitive development in preschoolers, helping them make sense of the world around them.
A 2020 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that regular storytelling improved memory, attention, and narrative skills in young children. (Source)
Stories with familiar settings, challenges, and emotional journeys allow children to relate, empathise, and grow emotionally as well as mentally.
Why Storytelling and Early Literacy Development Are Connected
The link between storytelling and early literacy development is deep and lasting. It’s through stories that children first encounter the building blocks of reading: sounds, words, rhythm, and expression. These shared experiences with trusted adults also build confidence, creativity, and a love for language.
Parents, educators, and caregivers all play a role in this process — not by focusing on teaching, but simply by telling stories in a joyful, expressive, and engaging way.
Why Choose Tappy Toes Nursery
At Tappy Toes Nursery, we understand the value of early storytelling. Our nurturing environment is designed to support literacy from the earliest years. Through daily storytelling sessions, song circles, puppet shows, and role play, we offer rich opportunities for language exposure.
Children at Tappy Toes enjoy stories that reflect different cultures, characters, and emotions — helping them grow not only in language but also in empathy and imagination. Our trained educators work closely with parents to encourage storytelling both at school and at home.
Tappy Toes is more than a nursery — it’s where literacy begins through love, laughter, and language.
Food for thought
Storytelling does far more than entertain — it shapes the way children think, speak, and connect with the world. It strengthens vocabulary, sparks imagination, and builds the core skills needed for reading and writing.
By nurturing storytelling and early literacy development, parents and educators can give every child a strong start. So whether it’s a fairy tale at bedtime or a story told during snack time, never underestimate the power of a good story shared with a curious little mind.
Let stories be the first words children fall in love with — and let that love lead them to a lifetime of learning.
