Skip to Main Content

LITERACY Resources: StoryPLAY

 

Click on the buttons below to view our StoryPLAY Collections. 


Why StoryPLAY?

by Melanie Scarcella

The simple play materials included in each bin are designed to seamlessly integrate with known stories, providing a unique blend of imagination and cognitive engagement for children’s holistic development. By connecting play with specific stories, our bins  support imagination, language, emotional, social and cognitive development and make learning a joyful, self-driven experience.
 
Imagination and Creativity
Children, by nature, possess vivid imaginations waiting to be unleashed. Integrating play materials with a narrative backdrop provides a contextual framework that ignites the imagination. Whether it’s building a castle with blocks that mirror a fairy tale or recreating a scene from a beloved storybook, children can seamlessly weave their own narratives, enhancing their imaginative and creativity.
 
Language Development
Story-based play materials serve as a linguistic playground for young minds. Through interaction with characters, settings, and plotlines, children naturally absorb new vocabulary, sentence structures, and storytelling techniques. This process not only enhances their oral communication skills but also lays the foundation for strong literacy development.
 
Social and Emotional Learning
Stories often carry rich emotional nuances, allowing children to explore a myriad of feelings in a safe and controlled environment. By engaging with play materials connected to a specific story, children learn to identify and express emotions, fostering emotional intelligence. This, in turn, contributes to the development of empathy and social skills, crucial for navigating interpersonal relationships.
 
Cognitive Growth
PLAY is a powerful medium for cognitive development. When linked to a story, play materials stimulate problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and critical thinking. Whether it’s arranging puzzle pieces to recreate a scene or strategizing to act out a narrative, children are actively exercising their cognitive faculties, laying the groundwork for future success.
 
Joyful Learning
Perhaps most importantly, the integration of story-infused play materials transforms learning into a joyful and self-driven experience. When children connect with play on a personal and imaginative level, the desire to explore, discover, and learn becomes intrinsic. The love for learning cultivated through story-based play materials becomes a lifelong asset.