Wellbeing Playlist uses storytelling to support children’s wellbeing

StoryBox Hub, Raising Children Network and the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) have joined forces to create the Wellbeing Playlist, a collection of 12 children’s stories designed to support wellbeing through shared reading, conversation and play.

The collaboration marks Raising Children Network’s 20th anniversary and brings together digital storytelling, evidence-based parenting information and practical ideas that families and educators can use with children.

Each story has been connected to an area of children’s wellbeing and is accompanied by a downloadable resource containing curated information for parents, along with ideas for extending the story through conversation and play.

Stories can provide children with a familiar and engaging way to explore emotions, relationships, identity, change and belonging.

By discussing the experiences of characters, adults can help children consider different perspectives, build their emotional vocabulary and make connections with experiences in their own lives.

The Wellbeing Playlist has been created for use by families at home as well as educators sharing stories in early childhood and classroom environments.

Rather than prescribing a particular lesson or outcome, the accompanying resources provide adults with prompts and ideas that can be adapted to children’s ages, interests, experiences and individual ways of communicating.

The collection is informed by The Nest, ARACY’s evidence-based framework for understanding the wellbeing of children and young people.

The framework identifies six interconnected areas of wellbeing:

• Being healthy
• Participating
• Having a positive sense of identity and culture
• Having material basics
• Learning
• Being valued, loved and safe.

These areas do not operate independently. A child’s sense of safety, for example, can influence their learning and participation, while feeling valued and connected can strengthen their identity and emotional wellbeing.

Each of the 12 stories has been matched with one of these wellbeing areas, helping adults use storytelling to introduce conversations about experiences that may otherwise be difficult for children to explain or explore directly.

Each story is accompanied by a downloadable resource containing:

• Information curated by Raising Children Network
• Conversation prompts for adults and children
• Ideas for extending the story through play
• Suggestions for connecting the story with children’s everyday experiences.

The resources allow families and educators to move beyond simply watching or reading a story and explore its themes in ways that are meaningful to individual children.

A story may lead to a conversation, a dramatic play experience, creative expression or an opportunity for children to share their own ideas and experiences.

StoryBox Hub has also compiled a broader list of suggested titles for those wishing to explore the six wellbeing areas further.

Early childhood educators could use the playlist to:

• Introduce conversations about identity, belonging, relationships and emotions
• Support intentional teaching focused on children’s wellbeing
• Extend shared reading through play and creative experiences
• Listen to children’s perspectives and ideas
• Explore concepts relating to participation, safety and inclusion
• Share wellbeing resources and discussion prompts with families
• Strengthen continuity between children’s experiences at home and within the service.

The stories and supporting materials may also contribute to curriculum planning and critical reflection connected with the Early Years Learning Framework, particularly children’s identity, wellbeing, communication and connection with their world.

Educators should consider each story in relation to the children in their group and remain responsive to any personal experiences or emotions that its themes may raise.

The value of the Wellbeing Playlist lies not only in the stories themselves, but in the conversations and connections they may create.

When adults read with children, listen carefully and make space for their ideas, stories can become a powerful starting point for exploring feelings, relationships and experiences.

The Wellbeing Playlist, accompanying resources and additional suggested titles can be accessed through the StoryBox Hub website.