That’s My Story!: Drama for Confidence, Communication and Creativity in Ks1 and Beyond

The ability to communicate is an essential life skill for all children and young people and it underpins their social, emotional and educational development. If a child experiences a positive relationship with an adult listening carefully, they are more likely to constructively share their thoughts, feelings and their imaginative ideas.

That’s My Story! places children’s imagined stories at the heart of their own development and provides a joyful, creative approach to support young children’s personal and social development and to encourage their communication. In this book you will find:

• Tried-and-tested drama games and activities that support communication and well-being, all adaptable to complement your current practice
• Guidance and advice on how to promote positive adult-child interactions
• Examples of creative interventions that support children’s communication development
• A celebration of the joy that comes with carefully listening to children’s own imagined stories

Those of us who work with children can sense a tangible connection between how young children feel and how they communicate. This essential and practical resource will be valuable reading for primary teachers, teaching assistants, speech and language therapists, and drama practitioners, as well as outreach and education departments of theatre companies and other arts organisations.

Adam Power-Annand is a theatre maker and the CEO of Speech Bubbles. Adam has extensive experience of making theatre and running drama workshops for children and young people. Since 2009 he has been leading Speech Bubbles, a charitable project which supports children struggling in the classroom and in social situations because of communication challenges. Speech Bubbles is a joyful small group drama intervention in which children are encouraged to tell their own imagined stories and act them out with peers. This is supported by physical, vocal and pro-social activities that encourage the basics of communication, understanding, expression and turn taking.