Children face challenges every day—whether it’s a bad grade, a falling-out with a friend, or feeling left out. While these moments may seem small to adults, they can deeply impact a child’s confidence and self-belief.
One of the most powerful tools we can use to guide children through life’s ups and downs is storytelling. At Adventures in Wisdom®, we’ve seen firsthand how using stories to help kids process big emotions and develop powerful mindset skills can transform their lives. Our story-based coaching curriculum has 27 stories that provide the foundation for our coaching process!
Here are three ways to use stories to help children overcome challenges and build the confidence and resilience they need to thrive.
1. Use Stories to Create a Safe Space for Learning
Stories allow children to explore emotions and difficult situations through the eyes of fictional characters, making it easier to talk about sensitive topics. For example, when a child hears about a character struggling with fear, they can relate to the experience without feeling judged.
Ask thought-provoking questions like, “What would you do if you were in this character’s shoes?” This kind of open-ended question invites conversation and helps children reflect on their own experiences.
Tip: Choose stories that mirror the challenge the child is facing, whether it’s a story about confidence, peer pressure, or goal setting.
2. Reinforce Positive Mindset Skills Through Repetition
Stories are more than entertainment. They are a gateway to deeper learning. Children remember stories better than lectures because more of the brain is engaged when a child hears a story. A story creates an experience, which deepens the learning and memories about the story and the lessons from the story. When you revisit a story and its characters with a child, you reinforce the mindset lessons within.
For example, in our coaching story, “Canville and Cantville, a Tale of Two Towns”, children learn the difference between an “I can” and “I can’t” mindset. When a child says, “I can’t do this,” you can gently remind them, “What would someone from Canville say?”. This question takes them back to the story and reminds them that they can choose to live in Canville.
Tip: Use story characters as refreshers for life lessons. Kids respond well to this kind of visual and emotional cue.
3. Turn Stories into Goal-Setting Adventures
Stories can also be powerful tools for inspiring children to set goals. When children read about characters who dream big and take action, it sparks their imagination and activates mirror neurons in their minds. That means they begin to see themselves doing something similar, which is a critical first step in achieving a goal.
In our DreamPower™ curriculum, children learn how to create a vision for their lives, break that vision into goals, and take small courageous steps to make it real.
You can begin by inviting your child or student to create their own “story of success”:
- Who is the hero? (That’s them!)
- What challenge or dream do they want to tackle?
- What help might they need along the way?
- How will it feel when they achieve their goal?
Tip: Ask the child to draw or write their own story about achieving a goal. This creative activity helps them visualize success and builds excitement. You could also choose stories about someone who has achieved what the child wants to achieve to help create those mirror neurons and inspire them about what’s possible.
Solutions Can Be Found Through Stories
Stories to empower children aren’t just fun, they can be life-changing. Whether it is your child or a child you are coaching, if they are struggling with self-esteem, facing a challenge, or setting big goals for the future, the right story can unlock their courage and creativity.
At Adventures in Wisdom®, we empower children around the world through story-based life coaching because every child deserves to believe in themselves and go for it in life!
👉 Want to see the power of stories in action? Teach the children in your life about positive self-talk with the free Coaching Story, Choosing Our BFF (Best Friend Forever) from the Adventures in Wisdom Life Coaching for Kids Curriculum. Get your free coaching story here.
Get Certified as a WISDOM Coach Yourself
If you’re passionate about helping kids this way, then get certified to use this story-based curriculum and use it in the way that works best for you.
Lisa uses the curriculum to teach mindset skills in school, where she has remained a School Counselor. And she helps kids beyond school in her own private practice.
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Adventure well, my friend!
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