For parents of young learners

Storytelling for kids

Storytelling is one of the easiest ways for children to grow confident speaking, because they're focused on the story, not on themselves. Here is a simple structure, delivery tips and 20 story starters to spark ideas.

By the Eloqova team · Updated 30 October 2026

Start with their own life: a real story about a lost tooth or a funny day at school is easier to tell than a made-up one, and just as good for practice.

The simple story structure

Part	What to say	Example
Beginning	Who, where and when	"Last summer, my brother and I went to Nani's village."
Problem	What went wrong	"On the first night, the lights went out and we heard a strange noise."
Middle	What they tried	"We took a torch and tiptoed to the kitchen."
End	How it was solved	"It was just a little goat that had wandered in!"
Lesson or feeling	What it taught or how it felt	"Now we laugh about the night we were scared of a goat."

Tips for telling a story well

Use different voices for different characters.
Pause before the exciting part.
Show feelings on your face: scared, happy, surprised.
Use your hands to show size, direction and action.
Look at your listeners, not the floor.
Use sound words like "crash", "whoosh" and "tap tap".
Keep it short; a great 2-minute story beats a long one.

20 story starters

One morning, I opened my school bag and found a tiny dragon inside.
The old tree in our park started talking to me.
Our car suddenly began to fly.
I woke up and I was the size of an ant.
A parrot followed me all the way to school.
The moon fell into our garden one night.
My shadow decided to go on holiday without me.
The new student in class was a robot.
It rained chocolate for one whole day.
I found a door in my house that I had never seen before.
My pet cat could suddenly read.
The lift in our building took us to a strange floor.
Grandpa's old box had a map inside.
Every time I sneezed, something disappeared.
The library books came alive at night.
I won a ticket to visit the stars.
A lost puppy led me to a secret garden.
Our teacher announced that today, the students would be teachers.
The ice-cream man had a magic flavour.
I could understand what the birds were saying.

For a storytelling competition

Choose a story with a clear lesson and a few characters.
Know the story well, but don't memorise every word.
Practise the opening and ending lines until they're perfect.
Time it; most school events allow 2 to 3 minutes.
Use one simple prop if the rules allow it.

How to practise at home

Tell a bedtime story together, taking turns with each part of the structure.
Pick one story starter a day and finish the story aloud.
Retell a favourite book in two minutes.
Record a story and watch it back, looking at expressions and pauses.

Questions parents ask

How do I teach storytelling to my child?

Teach the simple structure (beginning, problem, middle and end), tell stories together every day, and encourage voices, pauses and expressions.

What is a good story for a storytelling competition?

A short story with a clear beginning, problem and ending, a few characters and a simple lesson. Panchatantra and Jataka tales work well for younger children.

How long should a story be for kids?

One to two minutes for younger children and two to three minutes for older ones, or as the competition rules say.

More free guides

Want expert help? See our public speaking classes for kids: live 1:1 online classes for UKG to Grade 8.