The Magic of Storytelling: When Children Carry Stories With Them Just before Christmas, I was working with a Year 2 class, sharing the story of Stick Man. As I reached the final page, I paused at the moment where the story was about to end. Without hesitation, one child continued the story from where I had stopped. She did not have the book in front of her. The class had not been studying the story. She simply knew what came next. I looked at the teacher, and the teacher looked at me. In that quiet exchange, we both recognised the same thing. This was not about remembering words. It was about a story that had stayed with a child. This is the magic of storytelling. Stories Live Beyond the Book Stories are often thought of as something contained within a book, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. However, children do not always experience stories in such neat ways. They carry stories with them. They return to them. They make sense of them over time. When a child can step into a story and continue it in their own words, it tells us something important. Not only about memory, but about confidence, language, and ownership. The story no longer belongs only to the page. It belongs to the child. Paying Attention to Quiet Moments This moment was not dramatic or planned. There was no performance and no expectation. It was quiet and unexpected. In busy school days, moments like this can be easy to miss. They do not always fit neatly into a lesson plan or an assessment framework. Yet they matter deeply. They show us that something has settled. They show us that a story has found a place to stay. Storytelling as Children Grow Much of my work takes place with Foundation Stage 2 children, where storytelling is a familiar and regular part of classroom life. Working with Year 1 and Year 2 was a powerful reminder that storytelling does not stop being important as children grow older. The way children engage with stories changes, but the need for shared storytelling does not disappear. Instead, it evolves. Shared stories continue to support: confidence with language listening and attention memory and sequencing a sense that stories belong to children There Is No Right Way to Engage With Stories Children do not all respond to stories in the same way. Some listen quietly. Some join in immediately. Some return to stories later through play or conversation. All of these responses matter. Storytelling works best when children are allowed to meet stories in their own way and at their own pace, without being rushed towards an outcome. Making Space for Stories School days are busy, and it can feel tempting to move quickly from one activity to the next. Stories need space. Space to be heard. Space to be remembered. Space to return in unexpected ways. When stories are given time, children often surprise us. They show us just how much they have taken in. Looking Ahead: Why This Matters Now As we look ahead to the National Year of Reading 2026, there is increasing focus on helping children and families experience reading as something meaningful, enjoyable, and part of everyday life. This is not only about reading levels or targets. It is about confidence, access, shared experiences, and positive relationships with stories. Moments like that unexpected retelling in a Year 2 classroom remind us that this work begins now. It begins in classrooms, libraries, and shared story spaces, when children are given time, permission, and opportunities to engage with stories in ways that feel natural to them. By valuing storytelling, talk, and imagination alongside books, we help children build the foundations that later reading depends on. This long-term thinking sits at the heart of my work with puppetry and storytelling: creating experiences that stay with children long after the story has been told. Explore Storytime Sets and storytelling resources at Puppets, Plays and Story Days.

Making Storytime Magical: Meet the New StoryTimeSets Story Box At Puppets, Plays & Story Days, we believe that the best learning happens when children are having fun. ✨ That’s why we have created something new, exciting, and a little bit magical, introducing StoryTimeSets , a collection of Story Boxes designed to make stories, songs, and rhymes come alive for little learners. What’s a Story Box? Think of it as storytime in a box! 📦 Each Story Box is filled with carefully chosen books, puppets, and props to turn reading into an adventure. Instead of just listening to a story, children can join in, act it out, and bring characters to life. It’s the perfect way to build language skills, spark imagination, and create those giggly, wide-eyed moments we all love. 💛 Our First Story Box: Nursery Rhymes, Numbers & Colours We’re kicking off StoryTimeSets with a box that’s packed with favourites you probably know by heart: 🎵 Old MacDonald Had a Farm (sound board book + animal puppets) 🌈 Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (book + 10 colourful felt puppets) 🥯 Five Currant Buns (handcrafted felt finger puppets — perfect for “buying” in the pretend bakery!) 📦 All stored neatly in a beautiful bamboo box so nothing goes missing Why Parents Love It ✔️ No more “I’m bored” — it’s screen-free fun with endless play ideas ✔️ Makes bedtime stories interactive (and keeps little ones engaged!) ✔️ Supports early learning without feeling like “work” ✔️ Everything fits back in the box = tidy-up win 🙌 Whether it’s bedtime, rainy-day fun, or a chance to sit down and sing with your toddler, this Story Box makes learning feel like play . The Start of Something New The Nursery Rhymes, Numbers & Colours Story Box is just the beginning. We’re already planning more Story Boxes with classic tales, seasonal stories, and even themed sets. And for those who want extra ideas, we’ll soon be offering online training with simple tips on how to get the most out of your box at home. 🎉 Bring Storytime Alive Ready to turn storytime into something magical? ✨ Explore the new StoryTimeSets Nursery Rhymes, Numbers & Colours Story Box here: StoryTimeSets Nursery Rhyme Number & Colour Box Set – Early Years Numeracy & Rhyme Learning Set EYFS ✨ Follow us at @StoryTimeSets for ideas, tips, and inspiration💛

How Puppets and Story Sets Bring Stories to Life for Children

Understanding emotions can be challenging for children, especially when anxiety and new experiences come into play. The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas has been a cherished resource for parents and teachers, helping young minds make sense of their feelings through a captivating story. But what if you could take this journey beyond the pages of the book? Introducing our Colour Monster Puppet & Story Book Set—a hands-on way to bring this beloved story to life and deepen the emotional learning experience.