In the digital age it is important not to forget the timeless and traditional skill of oral storytelling. Oral language development and storytelling play a vital role in a child’s growth. For children, the foundations of oral language learning are happening NOW, and children are born ready to listen, mimic and absorb language – not through screens, apps, audiobooks, not even through our beloved books!

As humans we are hard-wired to connect through personal experience, and as infants our first contact with the world outside the womb even before we are born, is through sound, language and singing. The moment we are born, humans begin to learn through their senses and emotional connections. Oral storytelling continues this learning – tapping into our innate ability to make sense of the world through relationships with others.

We are the first to confess our love of children’s literature. Our shelves are lined with books that have helped define our childhoods and our beloved books make significant contributions to children’s language learning, communication and cultural understanding. None of these though. will draw directly upon a child’s lived experiential learning in THIS place, in THIS moment, in the way that oral storytelling does. Oral storytelling is powerful life-long learning because we are building RELATIONSHIPS with people, places, experiences and our SELVES. Oral storytelling will:

• Build vocabulary through listening to tales involving diverse words not used in everyday conversations.

• Fosters creativity and imagination, allowing children to create mental pictures of characters, settings and concepts in unique and personal ways, rather than accepting a visual image presented by someone else.

• Strengthens active listening, concentration and memory skills.

• Engages emotional intelligence and empathy through identifying with characters, and relating to personal experience, enabling children to understand various feelings and an appreciation for human diversity.

• Preserves cultural heritage through insights into their cultural roots and the stories that shape their identity as well as learning about the folklore and traditions of other cultures.

• Encourages confidence and public speaking when children’s own stories are celebrated and shared with with peers, family, or in group settings. This can be transformative!

Join us to unlock children’s potential and deepen your connections to shared learning. Ecological Storytelling Training is the foundation of our curriculum at Birdwings Forest School, and we offer this training every year. Our next one is on August 26! To see information about this, and our latest training opportunities, check out our Mentoring Page.