At Tales Toolkit, we love discovering new ways to make storytelling even more magical for children. Recently, we came across an incredible resource from the BBC: BBC Sound Effects. This free online tool allows you to play a huge variety of sounds—everything from chirping birds to dramatic thunderclaps. You can even layer multiple sounds to create an immersive soundscape!

Imagine how engaging your Tales Toolkit storytelling sessions could become when paired with sound effects. The sensory experience of hearing the pitter-patter of rain or the roar of a lion could transform stories into vivid, memorable adventures. Here are just a few benefits we think sound effects bring to the storytelling table:

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1. Encourages Active Listening

Listening to stories isn’t just about hearing the words—it’s about understanding and imagining. Adding sounds helps focus children’s attention, sharpening their listening skills as they tune in to match the sounds with the story’s action.

This ties beautifully into the early stages of phonics, as outlined in the Letters and Sounds framework. Phase 1, in particular, focuses on developing children’s listening skills and tuning into the sounds they hear around them. Incorporating sound effects into storytelling provides a playful and immersive way for children to practice identifying, differentiating, and responding to sounds—essential skills for building phonemic awareness.

2. Boosts Excitement and Engagement

When a spaceship in your story takes off, pairing it with the roar of a rocket engine can create a sense of thrill. Children are likely to feel more excited and involved in the storytelling process when it feels “real.”

3. Enhances Sensory Learning

By combining visual props, spoken words, and now sounds, Tales Toolkit stories can cater to multiple senses. This multi-sensory approach can make stories more inclusive for children with different learning styles and needs.

4. Promotes Imagination and Creativity

Playing sounds not only enhances a story but can inspire children to think creatively. What does a magic spell sound like? What noise might a friendly alien make? These questions spark imaginative thinking and allow children to shape the story in unique ways.

How to Use BBC Sound Effects with Tales Toolkit

1. Choose Your Sounds
   Visit BBC Sound Effects and search for sounds that match your story. For example, if your story is about a jungle adventure, you might choose bird calls, rustling leaves, or even a river’s flowing water.
2. Plan Ahead
   Before your storytelling session, plan when and how to use the sounds. You might want to layer a few effects to build an atmosphere or keep individual sounds ready to play at key moments. You might want to pair it with an image or a video either printed or on a large whiteboard or screen. It could even match the item in the Tales Toolkit bag.
3. Let Children Take the Lead
   Allow children to experiment with choosing and playing sounds during the storytelling. They could decide what noise the hero makes when they find treasure or what the dragon’s roar sounds like.
4. Reflect and Discuss
   After the story, encourage children to talk about the sounds they heard. How did it make the story feel? What other sounds might they add? You might use this bbc page with the children and they can create their own sounds, create sounds together as a group

We’d love to hear how you use sound in your Tales Toolkit sessions. Share your ideas and experiences with us—we’re always excited to learn how you’re making stories come alive for the children you work with.

Happy storytelling!

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