The Role of Storytelling in Early Literacy Development

If you have heard that the rules around mobile phones and electronic devices in early childhood settings have changed, you are right. If your child attends a childcare centre in NSW, these changes are already in effect.

Here is a plain-English breakdown of what changed, why it happened, and what it means for your family.

Why Did the Laws Change?

The changes were introduced as a child safety measure. In 2025, Australia’s Education Ministers agreed to amend the Education and Care Services National Law to address concerns about the potential for personal devices to be used to capture, store, or transmit images of children in care without authorisation.

The intent is straightforward: children in early learning settings deserve an environment where their privacy and safety are actively protected.

What Changed Nationally

From 27 February 2026, amendments to the national Education and Care Services National Law took effect across Australia. Under these changes, educators and staff who work directly with children are restricted from using personal electronic devices in care settings.

Before this, from 1 September 2025, all early childhood education and care services nationwide were required to have written policies in place addressing the use of digital devices.

What Changed in NSW

NSW moved ahead of the national timeline. The Education and Care Services (Supply, Authorisation and Use of Devices) Order 2025 took effect on 6 November 2025, applying across NSW’s 6,000 or more early learning services, including long day care centres, preschools, and family day care.

Under this order, educators and staff must use service-issued or service-authorised devices rather than their own personal devices when working directly with children.

What Counts as a Personal Device?

The definition is broad. A personal device is any device owned by an individual (not the approved provider) that is capable of capturing, storing, or transmitting an image. This includes:

Mobile phones
Smartwatches
Cameras and tablets
iPads and laptops
Hard drives, USB drives, and memory cards
Wearables such as camera glasses

Who Does the Ban Apply To?

The restrictions apply to anyone working directly with children at a service, including permanent and casual educators, students on placement, volunteers, contractors, and allied health professionals delivering programs on-site.

Parents, carers, and other visitors are not covered by the ban. In NSW, parents and carers remain free to use their personal devices during drop-off, pick-up, centre visits, and events involving their own children. There are also authorised exceptions for essential purposes, including emergencies and health or disability support needs.

What About Screen Time for Children?

These new laws specifically address staff device use, not children’s screen time. Screen time limits for young children are not mandated within childcare regulation at a national level.

The relevant guidance comes from the federal Department of Health and Aged Care’s 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, which recommend no screen time for children under 2 years, and no more than 1 hour per day for children aged 2 to 5 years. These are health guidelines, not regulatory requirements.

What This Means for Your Family

If your child attends a childcare centre in NSW, their service is already required to operate under these rules. Any educator or staff member working directly with your child should not be using a personal device to take photos or videos. Only service-authorised devices should be used for that purpose.

If you have questions about how your centre handles digital devices or image capture, you are well within your rights to ask. Most services will have a written policy in place that covers exactly this.

At Clovel, the safety and wellbeing of every child in our care is at the heart of everything we do. If you would like to know more about how we support your child across our centres, we would love to have that conversation with you.

When you were a child, did you have a favourite storybook? The benefits of storytelling for children are infinite. Stories bring comfort and offer a fun way for children to explore their imagination and develop language skills.

Introduction – The Power of Storytelling in Early Years

Stories can help your child unlock and understand emotions that would otherwise be difficult to comprehend. Through storytelling, your child is exposed to a range of different emotions in a safe and calm environment.

Additionally, when your child starts reading at a young age, they’re expanding their vocabulary and learning new ways of expressing themselves.

At Clovel Childcare, we nurture a loving environment where storytelling is a core component of our play-based program.

Cognitive and Language Benefits of Storytelling

Reading stories to children comes with many benefits, including:

Vocabulary expansion and comprehension

The best way to expand your child’s vocabulary is through reading. Even as adults, we're constantly discovering new words every time we open a book. Imagine the boundless possibilities that open up for your child.

Development of listening and concentration skills

Reading a book requires deep focus. As your child engages with stories, they'll naturally cultivate improved listening and concentration skills. The more your child dedicates time to reading, the more they’ll learn to sit still and absorb information.

Enhancing memory and critical thinking

Storytelling in early literacy encourages your child to analyse characters, predict storylines, and recall key events. As children are naturally curious, they may be eager to problem-solve and invent solutions for their favourite protagonists, opening the door to critical thinking.

Emotional and Social Growth Through Stories

A child who is engrossed in a story is bound to develop a vivid imagination, but the benefits don’t stop there. Here are some other ways your child can benefit from storytelling:

Building empathy and understanding diverse perspectives

Through reading, we’re gifted a passage into new worlds, different from our own. As your child navigates these narratives, they gain an intimate view of the characters’ emotions, challenges, and perspectives. When characters express intense feelings like sadness, frustration, or disappointment, it offers a crucial opportunity for children to build empathy and understanding.

Strengthening parent-child and educator-child bonds

Another wonderful benefit of storytelling for children is the beautiful connection that develops. Doesn't it feel cosy and comforting to tuck your child into bed and read a story together? That's because stories help us feel seen and understood, which in turn strengthens your special bond. Likewise, educators can create a safe space for children by engaging in storytelling and open expression.

Encouraging self-expression and confidence in young learners

Storytelling is a playground for feelings. They help children identify emotions, share thoughts, and express ideas that might be hard for them to articulate. With every book, your child is transported into a new world. They gain the unique perspective of its characters, experience distant places firsthand, and develop new ways of thinking. As children begin to understand themselves and those around them more, their confidence will flourish.

Storytelling Techniques to Enhance Literacy Skills

Literacy development is central to a child’s reading, writing, and overall communication. Here are a few storytelling techniques that can help keep your child engaged:

Interactive Storytelling Methods

As you read to your child, you have the power to bring stories to life. You can make it an enthralling experience by asking questions and using prompts to help them think more deeply about the story. This encourages them to get more involved, share their opinions, and develop their unique interpretations.

Use of Props and Visual Aids

Reading might be the last thing on your child's mind when running around and playing sounds so much more fun. That's where puppets, pictures, and storyboards come in – they're a great way to keep things interesting, spark curiosity, and keep your child focused.

Repetition and Rhymes

There’s a reason children love repeating nursery rhymes. These playful verses are a powerful tool for developing their self-expression and memory. More importantly, they're a fun and silly way to engage their developing minds. In fact, they’re so memorable that classic nursery rhymes, such as ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm’ and ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’, still resonate with us today.

Integrating Storytelling into Daily Activities

Did you know that children are natural storytellers? Below are some ways you can weave storytelling into daily activities to significantly enhance your child’s language development:

Literacy Activities for Preschoolers

Incorporating fun activities like designing story-based games, encouraging drawing, or role-play scenarios can transform reading into an exciting adventure. These activities help your child delve deeper into the plot and characters, while also providing space to explore their imagination and step into different roles.

Preschool Storytelling Ideas

Everyone has a story to share. Whether it's relying on a fun prompt or asking your child to recap their experiences of the day, encouraging your child to talk more about their thoughts, feelings, and observations can enhance their storytelling language skills.

Clovel Childcare's Approach to Storytelling and Literacy

Language and communication are fundamental to your child’s self-expression. The ability to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences is crucial for developing a strong sense of self and building confidence in who they are, especially during the early years of their life.

At Clovel Childcare, we wholeheartedly believe storytelling is an exciting way to engage children in language development. Our literacy program encourages children to immerse themselves in dramatic arts, reading aloud, and poetry recitation, allowing their imagination to truly lead.

As you can see, the benefits of storytelling for children are endless. When you enrol your child in our program, our educators provide a loving and nurturing environment, supporting your child’s language journey through gentle and compassionate guidance.

Lyn Connolly

Founder and Company Director

Lyn Connolly is the Founder and Company Director of Clovel Childcare & Early Learning Centres, a family‑owned group of eight centres across Western Sydney established from her first service at Merrylands. Active in early childhood education since 1977, she also serves as President of the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW, representing providers in state and federal consultations, media, and public hearings.

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