February 26^th is National Tell a Fairy Tale Day.

Which, if you are anything like us here at Discovering Days, brings a big beaming smile to your face and reminds you of either your own favourite fairy tales or those of your children young and old.

And what a fantastic opportunity to seize the day and head to the local library with your charges to find the best story books, full of mystical magic, princes, princesses, cowboys and Indians, and far away lands where wild beasts roam.

Children of all ages simply love a good story. Their imaginations feed on the creations of the wonderful Brothers Grimm  and Hans Christian Andersen, and who can forget Roald Dahl and his fabulous alternative fairy tales?

One of the best things about telling a good fairy tale is creating the right environment, making children really feel like they are in the story you are telling, or, giving them the tools to make up their own fairy tales to tell one another. Acting out the parts and the characters of their favourite fables with great gusto.

So, we thought it would be a good idea if we came up with some suggestions for the ideal story telling environment, and what makes the best kind of fairy tale. Want to know more? Read on…

How to Tell a Great Fairy Tale

All fairy tales worth their weight in gold have a mixture of characters, both good and bad. There are plenty of wicked stepmothers and witches in traditional fairy tales but of course, the tale usually revolves around good triumphing over evil, think of Aslan the Lion and the White Witch in Narnia, hence the ‘fairy tale’ ending. 

But to start with, the story must draw you in immediately, and if you start with ‘Once Upon a Time’ you can’t go far wrong!

Setting the scene and introducing the characters in to the story needs to create a sense of awe, and take your listener in to other worlds, full of magic, enchantment and interesting personalities!

Sometimes there are strange beasts, sometimes magicians and wizards and sometimes royalty, but one thing fairy tales always contain is magic. Think of the frog turning in to a prince, or Sleeping Beauty, asleep for one hundred years behind a thicket of thorns before the prince comes along and kisses her to wake her up, or the grinning Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland.

And often, there is a guardian of some kind, such as the Glinda, the Good Witch of the South from the classic tale Wizard of Oz, or being more up to date, even a whole host of them such as Guardians of the Galaxy keeping the good folk safe from harm!

So be as creative as you like, the kids will love it, but don’t forget the fairy tale ending.

Create the Environment and Set the Scene

Whether you are taking a picnic blanket out to the park on a summers day, or you are gathered round your favourite story telling chair which we wrote about last time in our homage to Charles Darwin, setting the scene is an important part of telling a fairy tale.

And what could be better than telling a story gathered around one of our splendid boats and galleons styled premium outdoor wooden toys?

These robust and hard-wearing pieces of equipment are the perfect centre piece for any school or nursery playground and offer an opportunity for physical play as well as an environment in which to stimulate thought and promote imaginative games and story-telling.

They offer shelter from the sun at the bow, and a clever rope climbing frame at the stern, perfect for would be pirates on the look out for hidden treasure on distant sandy shores. And at approximately four metres long, with modular sections that can be customized according to your requirements, these brilliant boats and galleons offer children space and adventure from the moment we complete installation.

And as with all our expertly handcrafted, wooden play equipment, we only use sustainable sources as we take our environmental commitment very seriously here at Discovering Days!

What are the Benefits of Story Telling?

So, what are the benefits of story-telling?

Well apart from they teach children listening skills and help them to develop a social understanding, and apart from the conversational and vocabulary skills they develop, oh and then there’s the emotional and mental stimulation of course….

We are sure you get the gist!

The benefits of story-telling are immense. During a story, children can experience many different emotions such as love, fear, compassion and sadness, yet all within the confines of their safety zone. They learn how to understand comprehension, language and develop creative writing skills.

A great story creates adventure and a whole new world for children to immerse themselves in, with make believe characters who become a second family and a wider community in which to make connections and generate loyalties.

So, whether you are a traditionalist and read stories such as Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs or Little Red Riding Hood, or, you prefer something a little bit more contemporary that breaks the mold of the usual customary prince and princess roles it really is up to you how you choose to celebrate National Tell a Fairy Tale Day.

Contact Us

So, if you want some ideas for National Tell a Fairy Tale Day, or you are interested in our boats and galleons to set the scene, you can

contact us here or call 01282 416 755 to speak directly with one of our dedicated wooden toy experts who will be delighted to take your call.

We have lots of creative imagination here at Discovering Days, but we are always happy to hear more of your excellent ideas!