10 Creative Story Time Prompts to Help Families Bond

Story time is the best time for family bonding. Inspire your storytelling with these creative prompts and tips for telling stories together.

Story time isn’t just for fun. The positive back-and-forth interactions that help kids develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively also help kids see two crucial truths: “I belong, and I am loved.”

Using storytelling as a bonding activity can be incredibly engaging and fosters creativity and connection within families. But sometimes Dad’s favorite story about hiking with a bear gets a little old.

To inspire your creativity and bonding, here are ten prompts that will keep story time interesting:

1. Time Travel Adventure

Have each family member take turns adding to a story about traveling through time. Where do they go? What historical events do they witness? How do they get back home?

2. Magical Creature Quest

Create a story where the family embarks on a quest to find a magical creature. Each person contributes by describing a new challenge or obstacle they encounter along the way.

3. Dreamland Chronicles

Imagine a world where everyone’s dreams come true. Have each family member share what their dream world would look like and what adventures they would have there.

4. Mystery at the Museum

Set the scene for a mysterious adventure at a museum. Together, the family members unravel clues, solve puzzles, and uncover the truth behind a puzzling artifact or exhibit.

5. Space Exploration Expedition

Journey into outer space as a family crew exploring new planets and encountering strange aliens. Each person can contribute by describing a new planet they discover and the adventures that await there.

6. Enchanted Forest Escape

Get lost in an enchanted forest filled with magical creatures and hidden treasures. Each family member can describe a new creature they encounter or a challenge they must overcome to find their way out.

7. Superhero Family Team-Up

Imagine each family member as a superhero with unique powers. Together, you must work as a team to save the world from a supervillain threat, like Mr. Kitty or the great moldy pizza!

8. Fantasy Feast Adventure

Create a story where the family sets out on a quest to gather ingredients for a magical feast. Along the way, they encounter fantastical creatures and challenges that test their culinary skills.

9. Underwater Expedition

Dive into an underwater adventure where the family explores the depths of the ocean, encountering marine life and mysterious underwater civilizations.

10. Once Upon a Time . . . in Our Family

Start a collaborative story about the family’s own adventures and experiences. Each person contributes by sharing a favorite memory or a fictionalized version of a shared experience, weaving together a tapestry of family tales.

Get the Most Out of Story Time

These creative story prompts provide endless opportunities for families to bond, laugh, and use their imaginations. However, the most rewarding part is doing it together, which sometimes requires superpowers. If you’re struggling to get everyone to participate, try out these tips:

• Set a schedule for story time, whether daily, weekly, or even monthly.
• Encourage everyone to contribute and build upon each other’s ideas.
• Ask questions and make the storyline interactive.
• Use humor to make story time fun and memorable.
• Trade off who gets to start and finish the story.
• Try to tell a story by finishing each other’s sentences.
• Write the stories down during story time and publish a collection that your kids can keep when they grow up.
• Host a story time event with dress up clothes, stage decorations, family and friends, snacks, and whatever else you can dream up.

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^{Shaelyn Topolovec earned a BA in editing and publishing from BYU, worked on several online publications, and joined the Familius family. Shae is currently an editor and copywriter who lives in California’s Central Valley.}