How to Start a Weekly Family Story Night (With 25 Fun Prompts)
There’s something kind of magical about a shared family story.
The way it pulls everyone in, how a kid’s eyes light up when they become the hero, or how a made-up monster gets more ridiculous every time you retell it. It’s storytelling at its best.
Family storytelling has been bringing people together for generations. And in a house full of screens and distractions, it might just be the simplest, most meaningful screen-free family activity you can do to reconnect.
And the best part? You don’t need anything but a few words and your people.
When my daughter and I first started unplugging at night, I asked if she wanted to make up a story instead of watching a show. She said, “Only if there’s a llama and a glitter explosion.”
Deal.
We ended up telling a totally unhinged tale about a time-traveling llama named Pickles who opened a taco truck on Mars. There were robot dance battles. Glitter-powered jetpacks. So much laughter.
Now? Story night is our favorite screen-free ritual. No apps. Just imagination, weird voices, and the kind of memories that stick.
💡 Why Storytelling Matters in Families
Storytelling isn’t just fun, it’s powerful.
It helps kids:
- Strengthen language skills
- Build empathy and emotional understanding
- Feel seen, heard, and important
And for grown-ups?
- It’s a way to slow down, connect, and get a peek into how your child thinks
- This kind of story creates memories you’ll tell again and again (especially when the story goes hilariously off the rails)
It doesn’t have to be polished. It just has to be shared.
💡 Need ideas to replace screen time with something fun? Try our Family Activity Generator for quick, screen-free suggestions tailored to your family’s vibe. It’s a great way to discover new ways to connect—no scrolling required.
🔄 How to Make Storytelling a Fun Family Tradition
You don’t need a script. You don’t even need a plot.
Here are a few ways to make storytelling part of your weekly rhythm:
🗣️ “And Then What Happened?” Group Story Game
One person starts the story, then pauses and asks:
“And then what happened?”
The next person picks up the thread, adds a twist, then hands it off again.
🌀 Tip: The sillier it gets, the better. Bonus points for dragons, time travel, or Grandma turning into a penguin.
🔦 Story Night in the Dark
Turn off the lights. Grab flashlights or LED candles.
Take turns telling a story in the dark. It instantly makes the storytelling feel dramatic and special.
Set the scene: “One dark night, in a quiet neighborhood… someone heard a creak.”
Trust me: the giggles (and maybe mild spookiness) will follow.
🛏️ Bedtime “Hero of the Day” Stories
Make your child the star of the story and use their name!
“Once upon a time, there was a brave kid named Maya who found a talking backpack that led her to a secret treehouse in the clouds…”
Let them help shape the adventure:
- “What color was the backpack?”
- “What did the treehouse smell like?”
- “Did they bring snacks?”
✨ 25 Story Starter Prompts to Spark the Magic
Here’s your ready-to-go list! Print it, cut them into strips for a jar, or keep them on hand for story night.
🧠 IMAGINATIVE + SILLY
- A talking sandwich shows up in your lunchbox. What does it say?
- You wake up with invisible wings. Where do you fly first?
- A mysterious door appears in your backyard…
- Your pet turns into a superhero. What’s their power?
- A time-traveling llama offers you a ride. Do you say yes?
🌳 OUTDOOR + ADVENTURE
- You find a secret path at the park that leads to…
- While camping, your flashlight flickers and suddenly you’re in a new world
- The garden gnomes start whispering to you
- You build a treehouse that lifts off like a rocket
- A squirrel challenges you to a scavenger hunt
🦸 FAMILY & FEEL-GOOD
- You and your family are chosen to save the world with one silly magical item
- You wake up and everyone has switched bodies for a day
- Your grandma has a secret superpower
- The family dog starts talking at breakfast
- You open the fridge and it leads to another universe
🎃 SPOOKY (But Not Too Scary)
- A note slides under your door with just three words…
- You hear giggling from the closet, but no one’s there
- Your shadow starts doing things you didn’t do
- The campfire glows blue and tells a story of its own
- You meet a ghost who’s afraid of kids
✨ JUST SWEET
- You get to relive your favorite day but one thing changes
- You find a journal written by… your future self
- You meet a star who fell from the sky and needs your help
- Your favorite book characters invite you into their world
- The moon tells you a secret
🏡 Want to Make It a Weekly Tradition?
Here are a few ways to build storytelling into your regular rhythm:
- Pick one night a week to do “story night” after dinner or before bed
- Create a story jar—print the prompts, cut them out, and pull one each night
- Record your stories (audio or video) and watch how your kids’ ideas grow over time
- Make a family storybook—write your favorites down and illustrate them together!
- Check out this neat variation—a free printable game called Roll a Story. It’s super fun!
📥 Want the Printable Version?
I’m putting together a Family Story Night Starter Pack that includes:
- Printable 25 story starters
- Cut-out Story Jar strips
- A blank “Make Your Own Prompt” page
- Printable “My Story Journal” template for kids
Let me know if you want it and I’ll send it your way!
❤️ Final Thought
You don’t need to be a “storyteller” to tell a good story.
You just need to start talking and let your imaginations meet in the middle.
Because the most important part of story night isn’t the plot twist…
It’s the part where everyone’s laughing, listening, and leaning in together.
✨ Want more ways to unplug and reconnect?
Check out our post on Meaningful Family Connections for simple, screen-free ideas to help you create lasting memories.
🧠 Build Digital Wellness, One Thought at a Time
Looking for a gentle way to support screen-time balance in your home?
These free printable affirmation cards are a simple but powerful tool to help both parents and kids create healthy digital habits—without guilt, power struggles, or perfectionism.
💬 30 Kid-Friendly Affirmations
Help your child build confidence and self-awareness around screen time with affirmations they’ll actually understand and connect with.
Perfect for morning routines, lunchboxes, tech-free time, or calming down after overstimulation.
👉 [Download the Kids Cards]
💛 30 Mindful Parent Affirmations
Designed for busy, tech-weary parents who need a pause—not more pressure. These cards offer quick mindset resets when you’re navigating digital decisions, screen-time overwhelm, or just trying to be present in a noisy world.
👉 [Download the Parent Cards]
📎 Print them. Post them. Revisit them anytime your family needs a screen-time mindset shift.
🖨️ Both sets are ready-to-print and designed to be flexible—use the full-size cards for display or the mini cut-out version for daily draws, backpacks, and more.
