NARRATIVE SKILLS: the ability to describe things and events and tell stories.
Being able to talk about and explain what happens in a story helps a child understand the meaning of what he or she is hearing or reading. Good narrative skills lead to good reading comprehension!
What can parents do to help children develop narrative skills?
Name things (real objects and pictures in books) as you go through the day.
Enjoy songs and nursery rhymes like Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes and Put Your Finger in the Air.
As your child gets older, label not just things but also actions, feelings, and ideas. Happy, sad and angry are common feelings, but think of less common ones, too: embarrassed, quiet, sleepy, jealous, frustrated and others. Talk about your own feelings. Use words to explore what your child might be feeling.
Choose a book you’ve read a number of times. Read it again and at certain points in the story, let your child tell you what happens next.
Let your child tell a story using props or puppets.
Have your child draw and tell you what is happening in the picture.
Tell your child stories about your own life.
Narrate your actions as you go through your day. Talk about some of the things you’re doing: “First we’ll buy this pancake mix, then we’ll go home and then we’ll make pancakes.” This helps children understand that stories have a beginning, middle and end.
Make sure your child has lots of opportunities to talk with you, not just listen to you talk. Communication is two-way and involves interaction, which helps develop parts of the brain involved with language. Listen as your child tries to talk. It takes time for young children to speak, so be patient!
It’s important that children not watch too much television, which a is passive activity, and does not lead to the same growth in language skills as talking.
Some ways of talking are more effective for developing narrative skills. For example:
- Talk to your child in ways that encourage interaction and a response.
- Ask your young baby a question and then answer for her.
- Let your toddler to tell you about something that happened to him today; ask for more details so he can expand on his narrative.
- Ask questions that cannot be answered with “yes” or “no” to encourage your child to think and increase comprehension.
- Add description when you’re reading a book together. “What is Granny wearing to bed?” “Yes, that’s right, a nightgown, a nightgown with ruffles and puffy sleeves.”
Asking questions as you read is part of at technique called Dialogic Reading. Click on that topic's tab at the top of the page to learn more.
Visit your public library often with your child. You’ll find a wonderful variety of books and other materials to help your child learn narrative skills—and have fun!
Visit your public library often with your child. You’ll find a wonderful variety of books and other materials to help your child learn narrative skills—and have fun!
