How Listening to Stories Helps Children Understand Emotions Better
Understanding Emotions Through the Magic of Storytelling
If you’re raising a child between 6 and 12, you already know how complicated emotions can be at that age. One moment they’re laughing, the next they’re overwhelmed by homework, friendships, or changes at school. As a parent, it’s natural to want to ease that emotional rollercoaster — especially when your child can’t quite put their feelings into words.
Here’s something surprisingly simple that can provide both comfort and insight: listening to stories. Not just reading, but actually listening — through audiobooks or narrated tales — can offer children a safe space to explore tough emotions and begin to understand them better.
Why Stories Speak the Language of Emotion
Children often don’t have the vocabulary to articulate what they’re feeling. That’s where stories come in. When a child listens to a character facing frustration, disappointment, joy, or fear, they can recognize those same emotions without feeling exposed or judged.
Consider a story about a child nervous on their first day of school. As listeners follow the character’s journey from anxiety to confidence, they not only learn that their feelings are valid, but also that emotions can change and become manageable. This concept — emotional growth — sinks in much deeper when experienced vicariously through a character.
The process mirrors how your child learns best: through example, connection, and safe distance. By watching someone else face a problem, they can analyze it calmly, without the defensiveness that sometimes comes with direct feedback.
Listening Builds Empathy — Even More Than Reading
Research suggests that listening to stories, especially when read expressively, activates brain regions involved in emotional processing and empathy. This can be especially valuable for children who struggle with social cues or who prefer audio learning styles.
In fact, audiobooks can sometimes be more effective than print in engaging reluctant readers or overwhelmed students. That doesn’t mean replacing books, but rather offering a richer variety of entry points into storytelling.
Try a story like “The Mountain Who Stayed Silent,” where the main character doesn’t speak up until it truly matters. A child who tends to stay quiet at school may see themselves reflected in that narrative — and maybe, through it, become curious about their own voice, too.
When Life Feels Out of Control, Stories Offer Predictable Safe Spaces
Many children experiencing school-related stress or learning difficulties also feel a lack of control. There are routines — wake up, go to school, do homework — but emotionally, it can feel chaotic inside.
Stories, especially in audio format, offer predictability. There’s a beginning, a middle, and an end. Characters often face a problem that is resolved. For children buried in ongoing challenges, this narrative shape provides relief and structure.
If your child has trouble settling down after school, try establishing a story ritual — maybe 20 minutes of an audiobook while having a snack or lying in bed. This kind of quiet, low-pressure exposure to emotions (from the outside, not inside their own minds) can help them begin to reflect and process internally.
Some soothing stories designed to calm anxious children are ideal for this end-of-day transition. They shift the emotional focus without demanding too much effort or response from your child. They just listen — and slowly, comprehension builds.
How Interactive Stories Support Emotional Growth
For children who find traditional learning overwhelming, stories with interactive elements — where they can choose what happens next or answer a narrator’s question — can deepen their connection to the content. These formats require emotional decision-making: What would you do if this character lost their friend? How would you feel in this situation?
These questions, posed gently within the narrative, allow a child to practice navigating emotions from a place of safety. Interactive audiobooks are particularly helpful for children who want to feel in control, as they invite participation without pressure.
A Simple, Supportive Tool for Everyday Emotional Learning
While listening to stories isn’t a replacement for conversations or professional support, it’s an easy and impactful way to encourage emotional development from the heart of your living room or car ride. The effects compound over time — the more stories your child absorbs, the more emotional layers they begin to understand.
If you're curious where to start, iOS and Android users might find the LISN Kids App helpful. It offers a rich selection of original audiobooks and series specially crafted for kids aged 3–12, many of which gently explore topics like friendship, grief, resilience, and courage.
It’s also a great companion during school holidays or commutes, making emotional storytelling a natural part of your family’s routine. If you’re wondering how to use those quiet moments to build empathy and self-awareness, LISN is a gentle way in.
Not sure when’s the best time for stories? Here’s a helpful guide on maintaining story habits during the holidays and another on how reading supports language and emotional skills.
At the heart of all this is one truth: stories remind your child that emotions are not only human — they are understandable, changeable, and even shareable. And in that understanding, children start to feel a bit less alone, a bit more safe, and a lot more seen.