Why Family Storytelling Beats Screen Time
It Starts With a Swipe
Let’s be honest: sometimes, the screen just saves the day.
When dinner’s burning, the toddler’s melting down, and you haven’t had a moment to think all afternoon, that cartoon or game on a tablet can feel like a lifeline.
We’re not here to shame that. We’re parents too. We get it. Screens are tools. They’re part of our world. And they can offer moments of quiet, entertainment, and even learning.
But if you’ve ever caught yourself wondering: "Is this really how I want most of our time together to feel?”, you’re asking the right question.
Because while screens are convenient, they often come at a cost: missed connection.
And there’s a quiet, powerful alternative sitting right under your nose. It's one that doesn’t require apps, prep time, or extra energy: it's storytelling.
The Surprising Problem With Passive Content
Here’s what we know about screens: they’re passive. They do the work for you.
The colors, the sounds, the stories... they’re served up, prepackaged, high-speed.
But then there's an issue: our kids aren’t passive by nature. They’re explorers. Thinkers. Builders. Askers of why.
When they’re consuming content without interaction, their natural curiosity takes a backseat. Their creativity gets quiet. Their connection to you, their most important person, gets put on pause.
Have you ever tried to talk to your child while they’re watching a show or noticed the emotional crash after screen time ends?
It’s not that screens are evil. They’re just limited. They can’t laugh with your child, ask follow-up questions, or build off your child’s ideas.
But you can and that’s where storytelling changes everything.
Storytelling is What Your Child Has Been Craving
When you tell your child a story, whether it’s about a silly monster, your own childhood, or a turtle who forgets where he buried his snacks, you’re doing something profound.
You’re inviting your child into a shared experience.
You're saying:
“This moment matters.”
“I want to connect with you.”
“Let’s imagine something together.”
Storytelling isn’t flashy. It doesn’t come with theme music (unless you create a ritual for starting your story time with a song - highly recommend it). But it’s deeply engaging.
It lights up your child’s imagination. It builds their vocabulary and comprehension. It invites questions instead of passive reception.
And it gives your child something no screen can offer: you.
The Difference You’ll Feel
When you make storytelling part of your family rhythm... even once or twice a week... you’ll start to notice small shifts that feel big:
Your child starts asking for a story instead of a show.
You hear them re-telling stories you made up days ago, proof they’re listening and remembering.
You find yourselves laughing together over an inside joke that you created.
These are the little signs of a bond growing stronger. These are the moments that build lifelong memories. And they don’t require a performance. Just your presence.
“One evening, I made up a story about a llama who didn’t want to go to bed. My son giggled through the whole thing, and the next night, he told me a version of it. We’ve been telling ‘Llama Tales’ ever since.”
This Isn't About Perfection—It's About Presence
Let’s be clear: you don’t need to swear off screens or become an award-winning storyteller.
This is about finding a simple, screen-free option that offers more:
More creativity
More conversation
More emotional connection
More shared memories
In our book, Creating Stories Worth Telling Your Kids, we help you make storytelling a natural part of your life. No pressure, no prep, no storytelling “talent” required.
We offer:
A repeatable storytelling framework
Prompts and examples to get you started
Tips for working storytelling into real-life moments—car rides, bath time, waiting rooms
Encouragement for building confidence and enjoying the process
Because this isn’t just about what you say. It’s about how you make your child feel while you say it.
Let’s Trade Swipes for Stories
Screens will still have their place. That’s okay.
But if you’ve been longing for something richer, something that invites imagination, emotion, and connection, then storytelling is your invitation to begin.
No screen will ever look your child in the eyes. No app will ever laugh with them, or adjust a story based on their question, or say, “I made this just for you.”
But you can.
Start with one story.
One moment of shared wonder.
And watch what grows.
Ready to Reclaim the Magic?
Explore Creating Stories Worth Telling Your Kids and discover how storytelling can help you shift from passive content to powerful connection—one simple, magical story at a time.
