We know storytelling has been around for thousands of years. We have proof from the evidence that survives – from ancient cave art, to hieroglyphs, runes and Greek fables. We also know there must be stories we have no record of, because before everyone could read and write, before the tools for writing were invented, all stories were told. Whether it was by a travelling bard, a village elder around the fire or a parent to a child, humans have always shared stories. Just as we do today. People tell stories to explain how the world works, why things are the way they are, to give warnings, and to make people laugh or cry or perhaps feel a shiver down the spine.
I have always loved stories and the power words can have when they are put together in a certain way. As a child I used to stay up late reading under my duvet with a torch, and my happy place has always been anywhere I am surrounded by books. I worked in children’s publishing in London for eight years, at Hachette Children’s and Penguin Random House, but today I live in Cornwall and make my living from stories as an author and freelance editor and mentor to other children’s writers.
As a mum to two boys, and as a writer who regularly visits schools, festivals and libraries, I see how invaluable stories are for children. They offer connection, help children explore other worlds and develop empathy, self-expression and language. The importance of language and books in childhood development is well documented. There are studies that show reading helps children with their mental health, as well as with their vocabulary. Exposure to new words is crucial to a child’s language development and being read a wide variety of books from an early age provides a perfect way to do this. There is currently a ‘word gap’ in the UK where one in four children aged 5 have a much poorer vocabulary than expected for their age. The knock-on effect of this is they are less likely to reach the expected standard of English at the end of primary school and, long term, are twice as likely to be unemployed when they’re 34.¹ Words really do matter.
Stories offer so much more than just educational benefits though. I love how they allow children’s imaginations to develop and provide an opportunity for creative play. Whether you’re reading them, listening to them or making them up, stories should be fun! My boys are now 6 and 8 and it makes me so happy that they love books too. Their dad and I met when we both worked in publishing so, in a way, it’s in their DNA. My husband is a children’s book illustrator and book cover designer and because of what we do, we have lots of books at home. But we are lucky. In the UK, one in five children aged 5 to 8 does not have a single book of their own at home.² Regardless of how many books you do or don’t have, there is still so much you can do to help your children fall in love with language and stories.
We started reading to our boys when they were first born. We read to them even when their attention spans would only last for two pages, and when they were more interested in chewing the book or throwing it across the room. They also see us reading and we have always been members of our local library. When the boys were small, I took them to story time sessions there, and now they’re older, they love choosing their own books. I have always believed that it doesn’t matter what children read: if they want to read comics, non-fiction books or books aimed at a different age group, it’s fine by me, as long as they’re reading. My boys both enjoy taking part in the national Summer Reading Challenge every year too. It’s run by libraries and, just like the library itself, is completely free.
I loved my bedtime story with my parents when I was growing up, and now I have a family of my own, it is still one of my favourite times of the day – cuddling up with my boys and sharing a story. It creates a few moments of connection and calm in what often feels like a busy day for us all. Now the boys are older, we take it in turns to read. Sometimes, after we’ve read, we talk about the book or make up different endings. And sometimes we talk about our days instead and the things we’ve done. I am determined to keep this going for as many years as I can.
Many of my picture books are inspired by my children, and my latest book, How to Make a Story, is no exception. When my eldest son was little, he would often ask me to make up a story just for him. Sometimes I would ask him to help, but he used to worry about getting it ‘wrong’. But that’s the thing about stories, you can’t get them wrong. Often starting is the hardest part. Making up stories should be about letting your imagination go wild and having fun. I always tell writers (of all ages) that first drafts don’t have to be perfect. When I write, I don’t worry about spelling or grammar or structure to start with, I just let the story flow and enjoy the buzz of creating something new. Then, when it’s written, you can go back and edit it, if you want to.
If your child feels unsure about how to start making a story, you could try using some prompts. In the past I’ve made a story box or sack containing items from around the house. The items can then be pulled out and used as a springboard to begin your own story. Story dice also work well for this. You can buy ready-made ones or make your own. The other thing to remember is that stories don’t have to be written; they can be drawn (my children love doing this) or told. You could even take it in turns to make up a story together – the sillier the better! This is great on long walks when little legs are running out of steam. Often a child’s vocabulary and imagination are ahead of their spelling and writing ability, so trying different ways of making stories, or using a combination of writing, drawing and telling, can feel more accessible.
In How to Make a Story the main character, Milo, uses his imagination, inspiration from what’s happening around him and prompts from his family to make up his own adventure story. Once he’s finished, he turns it into a cartoon and then shares it with his baby brother and sister. If I have learned anything as a mum and as a reader and writer, it’s that stories are always more powerful when they’re shared.
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Naomi Jones worked in children’s publishing for eight years. Since then, she’s worked as a freelance editor and fulfilled her childhood dream of having her stories published. Her books include The Perfect Fit and its sequel One More Try, The Odd Fish, How to Catch a Rainbow and How to Make a Story. She lives in Cornwall with her family and their dog. When she’s not writing, Naomi loves to swim in the sea and play netball. On Instagram @naomiandjamesjones and on Twitter @naomijones_1
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References
- National Literacy Trust, ‘Language unlocks reading: supporting early language and reading for every child’, 2019, available at literacytrust.org.uk.
- National Literacy Trust, ‘Young (aged 5 to 8) children’s reading in 2022’, 2022, available at literacytrust.org.uk.
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First published in issue 83. Accurate at the time this issue went to print.
