Five Benefits of Storytelling:
Creating Peace Within the
Classroom
The art of storytelling is an intrinsic part of what it means to be human,
encapsulating our inherent need for connection. It serves as a catalyst for breaking
down cultural and socio-economic barriers and cultivating inclusivity.
Within the classroom, storytelling establishes a deeper connection between pupils
and teachers; it invites everyone to come together and engage in thoughts and
emotions that can otherwise be challenging to explore, fostering an environment
where everyone is valued and respected, promoting unity in a pleasurable and
memorable way (Agosto, 2013).
Here, we will consider five benefits of storytelling in the classroom, creating a space
for the optimum opportunity for intellectual growth and igniting long-lasting effects
on the mental and emotional well-being of developing young minds.
5 Benefits of Storytelling
Fostering Belonging and Inclusion: Establishing a sense of belonging can be
challenging for anyone at any age, but especially for children still in the
developmental stages of discovering who they are.
In an environment where attention may feel limited simply by the sheer number of
pupils compared to teachers, or where one can compare their ability to engage with
learning materials against others, it is natural to harbour feelings of exclusion.
Stories for Schools challenges this by providing carefully considered stories even
the most anxious or resistant pupil will often open up to embrace, fostering an
inclusive environment (Amanda Cloke & Louise Treweek, n.d.).
Cultivating Emotional Intelligence: ‘Acting out’ has oftentimes been associated
with children, but if we consider what this truly means, acting out is commonly the
result of an inability to communicate one’s thoughts or feelings.
Young minds crave guidance in understanding their emotions and expressing their
thoughts and feelings.
A good story will build familiarity and trust, allowing the listener to enter the story
and opening them up to receive guidance for understanding emotions and
navigating healthy means of expression.
Developing Interpersonal Skills: Forming healthy relationships is crucial for one’s
emotional and mental well-being.
For children, it is important parents and educators supply the foundations of skills
required to build and maintain healthy connections.
A good story does exactly this by encouraging active listening, fostering empathy
through well-thought-out characters, promoting understanding of diverse
perspectives, and teaching conflict resolution skills.
Promoting Unity, Building Community: For children, carefully selected stories
can help nurture an awareness and respect for others, introducing them to different
traditions, cultures, and ideas and celebrating diversity, all of which are key to
cultivating a strong community.
Alongside this, stories reveal vulnerabilities and experiences, teaching us to
replace judgment with empathy. As social creatures, we depend on others for our
survival and happiness.
Through storytelling, we can introduce these values in the classroom, attributing
children with the qualities that will help them prosper in their relationships with
others and strive to be a part of a supportive community (Zak, 2014).
Enhancing Learning and Engagement: Enjoyment plays a crucial role in effective
learning. Storytelling enhances the experience of learning by transforming teaching,
which can sometimes feel stagnant for children, into a multi-sensory experience,
metamorphosing the classroom into a vehicle for exploration and adventure.
Providing children with an enjoyable educative experience heightens their ability to
engage in the long run, improving information retention and overall positive learning
outcomes.
Schools are the learning grounds for more than academia; for children, it is the
rudimentary experience of existing within a community, foundational to their
development as social beings. Not only does storytelling create peace within the
classroom, inspiring deeper engagement and stronger connections, but it also
empowers children to work together and care for one another, cultivating empathy,
respect, and a strong sense of belonging.
Article written by – Mariyo Takezoe
