Materials: Stuffed animals or doll. ​Transportation toy: car, plane, bus, or boat. Paper, writing utensil: crayons, markers, or pencil.

STEP 1

Collect materials and tell your child you will create a story about going on a trip. Let your child decide where you might go, how you will get there, and who should attend. Be sure to add a funny plot twist.

STEP 2

Let your child select which puppet, animal, or doll will be each character in the story.

STEP 3

Chat about obstacles you might face, like wanting to go to the beach in the winter or someone not being able to attend the trip because they have to work or go to school. Ask your child how these obstacles make them feel and what they can do about them.

STEP 4

Reassure your child that it is okay to feel any feeling. Then, help them think of solutions to the obstacles like planning the trip when the person is out of school or off work and planning the trip during a warmer season.

STEP 5

Help your child tell the story using the props for characters and transportation. Be sure to include the solutions to the obstacles you discussed.

MAKE IT EASIER:

Tell a story about a trip you have taken. Discuss how it made you feel and any obstacles you had to endure. Be sure to point out how you came up with solutions to your problems.

EXTEND THE LEARNING:

  • Draw a picture about your trip.
  • Add a funny plot twist to your trip, like you all discovered a fish driving the boat.

WHAT IS MY CHILD LEARNING?

To promote connection and build upon language and literacy skills.

WHY?

Storytelling is one way we pass information from one generation to the next. Families can connect through storytelling by telling an oral story, revisiting a written family story, or reading a book.



children playing with hand puppets