What is correct about how teachers can support young children's language development when the children tell stories?

• A. Storytelling permits young children to exercise their powers of imagination.
• B. It hampers memory.
• C. It has no effect.
• D. Stories should replace conversation.

Answer: (A)

When young children tell stories, they get to practice language in a meaningful, communicative context—planning what to say, describing events, and sharing ideas—which builds vocabulary, grammar, and the ability to organize thoughts into a coherent narrative. This practice also strengthens memory and comprehension as children sequence events, recall details, and explain connections, especially when teachers listen attentively and pose gentle prompts. A teacher can support this by repeating and expanding children’s phrases, offering richer word choices, guiding the story’s sequence, and linking the storytelling to drawings or printed words to highlight how language represents meaning. Conversation remains essential, so stories should complement rather than replace ongoing dialogue with adults and peers. Stories do indeed support language development; they do not hamper memory and they do have a meaningful effect.