Some children’s books become lifelong favorites for kids while others are forgotten by bedtime.
Colorful illustrations and rhyming words are only part of the secret.
There’s something else that makes the difference.
Here’s what it is…
Emotional connections.
But wait, there’s more…
Creating emotional connections in children’s storytelling is both an art and a science. With today’s AI story generator, authors have more tools to brainstorm ideas for stories that resonate emotionally. But building real connections in children’s books requires understanding the deeper principles at work.
The answer lies in understanding the science behind emotional connections in storytelling.
What you’ll discover:
- Why emotional connections are important in children’s stories
- How storytelling and emotions are connected, according to science
- How to build characters children care about
- Creating emotional moments in children’s stories
Why emotional connections are important in children’s stories
Most adults don’t remember the plots of their favorite childhood stories. But they often remember how those stories made them feel.
Creating an emotional connection through storytelling does more than entertain children. It also teaches them important life skills.
Helping children develop emotional intelligence, empathy and social skills is a top priority for parents and educators. In a recent Education Week survey, 80% of teachers said a sense of belonging is important for student success. In the classroom, stories help children build a sense of belonging.
But creating that sense of belonging through stories isn’t about making kids cry or laugh.
It’s about giving them characters and situations that are relevant to their lives.
How storytelling and emotions are connected, according to science
The effects of storytelling on children’s emotions are not just feel-good theory.
It’s also backed up by scientific research.
Studies have shown that storytelling actually increases oxytocin and decreases cortisol in children. In other words, stories make kids feel happier and less stressed.
Neuroscience goes even deeper into the effects of storytelling on children’s emotions. When children connect with stories on an emotional level, it helps them:
- Process their own emotions
- Understand other people’s emotions
- Form better memories
- Develop problem-solving skills
Exposing children to stories about different characters and cultures helps them explore different perspectives in the world. This builds empathy and social skills in ways that direct teaching often can’t.
Building characters children care about
Characters are the emotional heart of any story. But not just any characters will do for children’s storytelling.
Kids need characters they can identify with. Characters who face problems similar to their own. Characters who express real emotions in believable ways.
What makes characters emotionally engaging?
- Relatable challenges (fear of the dark)
- Expressing a range of emotions
- Making mistakes and learning from them
- Having unique quirks that make them memorable
The best children’s book characters aren’t perfect. They’re beautifully flawed, just like the kids who read about them.
Children are more likely to care about characters who struggle with the same fears or challenges they do. This gives kids permission to experience their own emotions. It helps them feel less alone.
Creating emotional moments that resonate
Creating emotional moments is not just about tragic events or dramatic plot twists.
For children, it’s often the small moments that have the biggest emotional impact.
Character sharing their lunch with a new friend. Standing up to a bully despite being scared. Admitting a mistake and apologizing.
Moments like this pack an emotional punch for children because they are experiences they themselves have or will have.
Key elements of creating resonant emotional moments include:
- Authentic-sounding dialogue from the child’s perspective
- Physical symptoms of emotions (fluttering stomach, warm cheeks)
- Logical consequences for actions
- Resolution that offers hope without being preachy
Remember, kids feel emotions just as intensely as adults. A little thing to an adult can be life-changing to a child.
The role of visual storytelling
It’s not just the words. In children’s books, images play a critical role in creating emotional connections.
Illustrations complement the text to deepen emotions and build empathy in the young reader. The right facial expression on a character can speak volumes to a child.
This visual-emotional connection is especially powerful for:
- Pre-readers who focus on the images
- Children learning to recognize emotions
- Helping kids remember important moments in the story
- Building anticipation and tension
The combination of words and pictures creates a more powerful emotional connection than either could alone.
Making stories personally meaningful
Here’s a secret most people don’t know…
The most emotionally powerful children’s stories are often the ones that tap into universal childhood experiences. First day of school. Making a new friend. Coping with disappointment.
Experiences all children share are instantly emotionally relatable. Because every child has experienced these things.
Stories should also reflect the complexity of children’s emotions. Kids rarely feel one emotion at a time. They feel a mix of frustrated-excited-nervous about starting school. Proud-embarrassed-hopeful when trying something new.
The power of reading together
Emotional connections in children’s stories become even stronger when shared between adults and children.
Research by BookTrust found that children are 40% more likely to enjoy reading if their parents or caregivers do. Positive reinforcement around reading builds a feedback loop.
Adults who read with emotion and enthusiasm transmit those feelings to children. Young kids learn that stories are something to be enjoyed. Not just a school exercise.
Benefits of shared reading include:
- Voice modulation bringing characters to life
- Pauses to discuss emotions and reactions
- Making connections to the child’s experiences
- Special bonding moments
Reading together is a collaborative process that deepens the emotional experience for everyone.
Building emotional vocabulary
One surprising benefit of emotionally engaging storytelling?
Building children’s emotional vocabulary.
Stories that name and clearly describe emotions teach children to better identify and communicate their own feelings. In addition to just “bad,” they learn to be disappointed, frustrated, worried, and so on.
This expanded emotional vocabulary provides children with tools to:
- Communicate their needs
- Interpret others’ emotions
- Solve problems more effectively
- Build better relationships
The more words a child has for emotions, the better they can manage their emotional world.
Wrapping it all up
Creating emotional connections in children’s storytelling is not just about making kids feel something.
It’s about providing them with skills to understand and express emotions throughout their lives. To build empathy and connect with others. To create safe spaces for exploration and expression of emotions.
The best children’s stories don’t just entertain. They touch children’s hearts. They open children’s minds. They create indelible impressions that shape how children view themselves, others, and the world.
By weaving these emotional connections into both traditional and modern storytelling methods, authors have the power to impact and nurture the next generation of emotionally intelligent, empathetic, and connected human beings.
That’s the magic of storytelling. Not just to amuse the young minds of children, but to nourish their young hearts as well.