Pages that leave a mark: the role of storytelling in the development of language, cognition, and memory in children

Abstract

Children's literature plays various roles in the development of children, serving as an important pedagogical, didactic, and therapeutic tool. Fables and tales represent a global heritage, spanning generations, eras, and locations, responsible for educating, entertaining, and raising awareness in diverse populations. In this integrative review, it aims to gather studies on the importance and effects of storytelling, linking this act to its role in the child population and seeking to understand if there are already known effects in the literature that correlate it with the development of memory in these individuals. To this end, the present study was conducted through the search for published works available in the PubMed, Scielo, and Google Scholar databases, using the PICo qualitative strategy for integrative reviews. In this way, it is observed that this act has repercussions in various aspects of child development. From shaping values to aiding in the school environment, reducing anxiety, developing linguistic and auditory skills, as well as improving working memory in these individuals. Therefore, storytelling is not just a recreational activity but an essential practice that profoundly influences the emotional, cognitive, and linguistic well-being of children, directly related to their memory development. This review has contributed to the understanding that the telling and retelling of stories can be used as an intervention tool.