Researchers at Frontiers in Developmental Psychology studied 54 mothers and their toddlers in the United States to understand what happens during shared storytelling. They observed mothers and children together in three settings—the lab, home, and playground—and looked closely at how mothers talked during a joint storytelling task.
The study focused on toddlers aged around 2.5 years, an age when many Singapore families begin formal preschool or enrichment programmes. While the research was conducted in the US, the findings apply to how any parent-child pair communicates.
Three storytelling skills that reveal a parent's sensitivity
The researchers identified three key communication patterns that mattered. First, mothers who created a warm, safe atmosphere where their child felt comfortable adding ideas. Second, those who genuinely encouraged their toddler to expand on details rather than just listen passively. Third, mothers who helped their child understand the "why" behind events in the story.
Mothers who used these co-construction skills—treating storytelling as a genuine back-and-forth rather than a one-way performance—showed significantly more sensitivity and responsiveness to their children overall. This sensitivity appeared consistently across different settings, whether at home or outdoors.
A gap between storytelling skills and attachment outcomes
Interestingly, while storytelling skills predicted maternal sensitivity strongly, they didn't directly link to whether toddlers showed secure attachment behaviours in this study. However, because maternal sensitivity is known to be a core building block of secure attachment, these storytelling approaches still matter for your child's emotional development. The connection is real, but happens through your own responsiveness as a parent rather than appearing immediately in your child's behaviour.
Shift from directing to partnering
In Singapore's fast-paced environment, many parents balance demanding schedules with tuition and enrichment activities. This research suggests that ordinary moments—like telling a story together—are valuable not because they teach academic skills, but because they strengthen your relationship and emotional attunement. Many Asian parenting styles tend toward parents leading and children following. This study shows that when you invite your toddler to be a genuine conversation partner, even during something as simple as storytelling, you're actually practising the sensitivity that builds secure attachment. You need no expensive programmes—just a shift in how you interact during moments you're already having.
Build better storytelling moments with your toddler
- Pause mid-story and ask genuine questions: "What happens next?" or "How does the character feel?" Listen to their answers.
- Invite your child to add details: "You tell me what the character does" rather than narrating everything yourself.
- Explain connections: "The character is sad because..." helps your toddler understand the reasoning behind events.