National Storytelling Week 2025 is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect opportunity to ignite children’s imaginations through the magic of storytelling. Whether you’re a parent looking to inspire your children or a teacher aiming to bring stories to life in the classroom, we’ve got you covered with fun activities and free resources to make this week truly special.
Fun storytelling ideas to try at home or in the classroom:
Storytelling isn’t just about reading a book; it’s about connecting with children, sparking creativity, and helping them develop language skills. Here are some great ways to nurture their creativity while building their vocabulary.
Story Jar
Create a Story Jar filled with prompts to inspire creativity. Write various story elements on pieces of paper and place them in a jar. Each day, the children can pick out one piece of paper and create a story based on what is written on it. This is a great way to boost their imagination and create limitless storytelling opportunities!
Storytelling with Props
Gather a few props, such as hats, toys, or a piece of cloth, from around the house or classroom and use them as storytelling tools. You can create a story together, transforming it into an enjoyable way to engage children and encourage children to think on their feet.
Storytelling with Art
Encourage children to combine art with storytelling by having them draw scenes from their favourite stories or create new ones. Inventing new characters and storylines allows them to explore their creativity and improve their writing skills. Use examples from other books to guide them in crafting their own stories.
Free resources for Storytelling Week:
To make National Storytelling Week even more exciting, we’ve compiled a list of free resources to help you get started. These resources include printable activities, story templates, and more—all designed to enhance storytelling and spark imagination.
BBC- National Storytelling Week and World Book Day resources
The BBC website is a fantastic go-to for a wide range of resources, all completely free and ready to use—no sign-up needed. For younger learners, you’ll find interactive videos with stories that bring tales to life in fun, engaging ways, perfect for primary-aged children. For older students, there’s a collection of classic stories transformed into podcasts—ideal for listening in class or at home. They’ve also got a collection called Lit P.D., offering deep dives into modern English literature, great for sparking discussion and expanding students’ literary horizons.
National Literacy Trust- Storytelling Week resources
The National Literacy Trust offers some fantastic free online workshops that parents and teachers can sign up for. These sessions, run by a variety of experts, guide you through National Storytelling Week and come with helpful worksheets to complete alongside the videos. While you’ll need to sign up to access them, the workshops are completely free once you’re in.
StoryBird- Free stories made by kids
Storybird is a brilliant platform where you can explore free stories created by other kids and parents. You can read a wide range of popular stories at no cost, and if you’re feeling creative, you can sign up to write your own stories alongside your kids. It’s a fun way to spark imagination and storytelling together.
At Uniformd, we believe in inclusivity and equality in learning; no one should feel as though they are at a disadvantage. Therefore, we encourage teachers and parents to donate any old books during Storytelling Week in time for World Book Day. Donating through the Uniformd page will support sustainability while ensuring that every child can participate in these wonderful school events, just like everyone else. Find out if your schools are partnered with Uniformd here, and if they are, simply bring any old stories, books, or costumes into school so they can be uploaded onto the site.