What Age Are Magical Story Jars Suitable For?

The Short Answer Is Three to One Hundred and Three!

It’s the question we get asked more than any other at events.  What age are Magical Story Jars suitable for? The honest answer is that they grow with your child.  From oral story making at bedtime to creative writing at the kitchen table, the way you use them simply changes as your kids get older.

What Is a Magical Story Jar?

Think of it as a storytelling kit for kids.  Each jar is filled with story cards featuring characters, settings and plot ideas.  Pick at least one of each out of the jar and you’ve got just the right amount of inspiration for a really memorable story.  There are enough story card combinations in each jar to make thousands of different stories.  It’s as simple as that. You can browse the full range in our online shop.

It All Started at Bedtime

Magical Story Jars began as an accidental business!  Our daughter was three and a half when she decided she wanted made-up stories at bedtime, the kind she could get involved in too.  A few months in, we were both exhausted after busy days and our stories were getting a little samey.  So I made a jar with little story ideas in…and it worked!

Verbal Story Making with Ages Three and Up

This is the sweet spot for bedtime stories, car journeys and imaginative play.  It’s also where some of the best memories get made, the ones your kids will talk about years later.  At this stage, kids are building literacy skills without even realising it.  Sequencing events, expanding vocabulary, learning how stories work, gaining confidence in expressing themselves.  All of this from simply making up a fun story together.  And you can be right there with them, making it up as you go.

Oral story making is especially popular with younger kids, but plenty of families carry it on through the primary years and even into the early teens.  The comfort, connection and imagination it creates never really goes out of date.  If your child still wants a made-up story at bedtime, they’re still exactly the right age for one.

Sprinkle the story cards with the magic dust that comes with each story jar and you’ve instantly added a hands on element that primary school age kids (roughly ages four to eleven) absolutely love.  Three story cards and a sprinkling of magic dust is all it takes to spark ten minutes of story making with lots of laughter and connection.  Make your stories interactive by adding silly sound effects, giving characters funny voices or, if your kids feel comfortable, letting them act the story out.  Kids who throw themselves into it tend to remember those stories for a very long time.

As a mum who has trained in oral storytelling and spent years making up stories with my own kids, I genuinely believe that spoken story making and reading together is the foundation of strong writing.  When we’re out running story making activities at festivals, events and museums, I can almost always spot the kids who’ve heard lots of stories or who are avid readers themselves.  Their story composition and descriptive language tends to be really strong.

A Tip for Parents

For ages three to five, don’t worry about the story making sense.  Talking absolute bananas is exactly what you want at this stage!  As long as they’re having fun, there really is no right or wrong.  Just keep those words coming.

For ages six and seven, try gently asking “What happens next?” or “How does the character feel?”  These simple questions build depth without it feeling like schoolwork.

Story Writing with Ages Six to Eleven

We didn’t originally design Magical Story Jars for creative writing.  But lots of our customers were using them that way, especially during lockdown. So my kids and I designed the Fairytale and Adventure Story Writing Notebooks as an add-on.  Inside you’ll find story structure information very similar to the story mountain they use at school, plus describing words that teachers love to see in kids’ writing!

So what actually is creative writing and why does it matter?  Creative writing is any writing where kids use their own ideas and imagination.  Stories, comics, mini books, whatever they enjoy.  It builds confidence, develops language and gives kids a way to express themselves beyond the classroom.  Best of all, it can be great fun when they have the right tools.

Although every child is different, many kids begin writing full sentences confidently from around age six.  This is the stage where the story cards become really useful for story writing.  They tackle the hardest part, coming up with the idea, so kids can get straight to the fun bit!  For reluctant writers, that can make a real difference.

If you’d like to try the story cards as a writing activity, take a look at our Adventure themed Magical Story Jar and Story Writing Notebook.

Comics With Kids Ages Six and Up

I firmly believe comics are underestimated as literacy tools.  Drawing first, then adding words, is often the bridge into longer writing for kids who find a blank page daunting.  They feel successful quickly and that confidence carries them forward and helps them to gain momentum.

Magical Story Jars Grow With Your Child

Younger kids love story jars for oral story making, role play and bedtime stories.  Primary age kids can use them for creative writing, comics and acting out stories.  The jar stays the same. The stories just keep getting better.

The Best Age Is the Age Your Child Enjoys It

If they’re laughing, joining in, taking over or simply asking for just one more story, you’ve started at exactly the right time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Magical Story Jars suitable for preschoolers?

Yes!  From around age three, kids can enjoy verbal story making with a grown-up leading the way.

Can older kids use Magical Story Jars?

Absolutely!  From around age six onwards, they work brilliantly as story writing activities for kids, independently or with a parent alongside them.

Are they suitable for schools?

Yes, we run hands on story based activities for kids in primary schools across Lancashire and the North West. You can find out more about our school workshops on our schools page.

You can browse our full range of fun story making activities for kids, including our story jars and story writing notebooks, in the Magical Story Jars shop.

Whether you are a parent looking for a gift that grows with your child, or a teacher wanting to bring story making into your classroom, I would love to hear from you. Get in touch at beth@magicalstoryjars.com

In the meantime, happy story making.

Beth & Co xx