Retelling a piece of information to someone is recalling a memory. Storytelling, on the other hand, brings that someone inside the memory and allowing them to relive the moment using their senses.
For preschoolers, learning the art of storytelling – from language to character, culture and moral values – can expand their imagination and encourage the development of their social, communication and interpersonal skills. So, what are the benefits of storytelling to preschoolers in the long run?
- Improve reading comprehension
Reading stories stimulates your child’s imagination and helps them learn about the world around them. Engaging storybooks, especially ones that allow story dramatization can afford children with not only the ability, but the passion for reading.
Studies (Milord, 2007; Miller & Pennycuff, 2008) support implementing storytelling with drama and theatre. Beyond recognizing and uttering words on pages, storybooks like this allow children to truly immerse themselves in and exhibit a high level of understanding of the stories.
- Nurture self-confidence
Storytelling presents opportunities for children to develop self-confidence, which in turn improves their public speaking skills to become persuasive presenters. With proper guidance that ranges from story organization to appropriate tone of voice and gestures, children as young as three years old can start learning the ropes of storytelling.
This is where storybooks or reading series, which are structured with essential components that support a child’s overall development, further contribute to creating confident young storytellers.
The Q-dees Link & Think Reading Series (LTR), for example, weaves the ability for young to tell stories confidently by synergizing printed books with engaging multimedia, so that even reserved children can imitate actions in the multimedia.
Such storybooks also do away with the notion of monotonous reading. Instead, they embed the values of reading as gratifying part of a child’s lifestyle.
- Enhance creativity
Creative thinking in storytelling is when children can personalize a story with their styles. With the rise of digital technology, stories that come in the form of multimedia embedded songs give freedom for children to explore, develop self-expression and discover new abilities and skills.
However, it all boils down to stories that are engaging enough and relatable to children’s interests. Stories that talk about family, friendship and environment while introducing common, everyday idioms can help. Better if they have songs for children to sing, and thus stretching their creativity.
All of this helps young readers to benefit from literacy and language development as well as a heightened sense of imagination and community.
- Improve concentration and memory
Storytelling does require text memorization with a touch of improvisation along the way. In this aspect, storytelling can be a useful learning tool for children. Even though it can improve vocabulary and strengthen memory, the challenge lies in how children can achieve this benefit.
Born out of the award-winning Link & Think Methodology, LTR accelerates children to link their minds to think logically and creatively when reading or practising storytelling.
The Q-dees 2021 Storytelling Competition aims to bring out the star within each Link & Think reader. This competition runs across a span of three months and is open to all five- and six-year-old Q-dees children.
Initially, this competition was to take place at physical places. However, with sudden lockdown directives, our parents, children and teachers quickly pivoted to digital tools to ensure the success of this competition. Out of over 300 participants, 20 storytellers have been chosen to compete in the Grand Finale.
Join us and cheer for the 20 finalists on September 25, 2021, by simply tuning in to our Official Q-dees Worldwide Facebook page to catch the live performance of our young stars.
Who knows, maybe your child will become the next Q-dees’ shining star!
#QdeesStorytellers21