Incorporating Local Folktales and EYFS Storytime favorites for Ages 3,4 & 5

Storytelling is at the heart of early years education, helping children develop language, imagination, and cultural awareness. At Hatching Dragons Nursery Schools, storytelling is a key part of the Cultural Capital and Regional Education Programme, ensuring that children engage with diverse narratives from their own communities and beyond.

In this guide, we will explore how to incorporate EYFS stories and local folktales into storytime for children aged 3, 4, and 5, offering practical insights into stories storytelling, storytelling how to tell a story, and stories for preschoolers to read.

The Importance of Storytelling in EYFS

Storytelling fosters creativity, literacy skills, and emotional intelligence in young learners. Using local folktales alongside popular EYFS stories provides children with a deeper sense of identity and belonging while broadening their cultural perspectives.

Key Benefits:

• Language Development: Expands vocabulary and sentence structure.
• Emotional Intelligence: Teaches empathy through characters and narratives.
• Cultural Awareness: Helps children understand traditions and values from different backgrounds.
• Cognitive Growth: Encourages problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Popular EYFS Stories and Local Folktales

Choosing a blend of well-known EYFS favourites and traditional folktales creates a rich storytelling environment for young learners.

Classic EYFS Storytime Favourites:

• "The Gruffalo" – A wonderful rhyming tale that captivates young readers.
• "We’re Going on a Bear Hunt" – An interactive story that promotes repetition and rhythm.
• "Dear Zoo" – A simple yet engaging lift-the-flap book that encourages participation.
• "Room on the Broom" – A magical adventure that fosters sequencing and prediction skills.

Incorporating Local Folktales:

• British Folktales: Stories like "Jack and the Beanstalk" or "The Giant of St. Michael’s Mount" offer familiarity while introducing traditional values.
• Regional Tales: Including legends from Scotland, Wales, and Ireland enriches cultural understanding.
• Global Folktales: Stories from China, Africa, and the Middle East provide diverse perspectives and storytelling traditions.

Storytelling: How to Tell a Story in EYFS

Effective storytelling engages children and makes learning meaningful. The Hatching Dragons approach integrates interactive and multisensory techniques to enhance the experience.

Top Storytelling Techniques:

• Use Expressive Voices: Differentiate characters with tone and pitch.
• Incorporate Props: Puppets, picture cards, or objects add a visual element.
• Encourage Participation: Ask children to repeat phrases or predict what happens next.
• Act It Out: Movement and role-play bring stories to life.

How Hatching Dragons Embeds Storytelling in EYFS

At Hatching Dragons, storytelling is embedded within the curriculum to support literacy, language development, and cultural education. Children are exposed to multilingual storytelling, helping them develop a broad linguistic foundation.

Some of our unique storytelling approaches include:

• Using bilingual storytelling to introduce children to new languages.
• Integrating traditional nursery rhymes with folktales from different cultures.
• Encouraging children to create and share their own stories.

Conclusion

Integrating EYFS stories with local folktales enriches the storytelling experience, providing children with both familiar and diverse narratives. By understanding storytelling how to tell a story and selecting engaging stories for preschoolers to read, educators can create meaningful learning experiences.

At Hatching Dragons, our innovative storytelling methods align with the EYFS framework, supporting early literacy and cultural understanding.