MyLeoNes™

Made-up stories and real stories — Literature, 4–6 years

Some stories grow from imagination, while others tell about people, places or events that really exist or happened. Learning the difference helps a child listen carefully without taking away the pleasure of pretend.

Real or made up?

A made-up story can have a talking fox, a flying house or a moon made of cheese. A real story tells about something that exists or happened, even if it is told in a lively way. Both can teach us about people and the world.

Why make the difference?

People have always told made-up stories to explore wishes, fears and impossible ideas. They also tell real stories to remember what happened and help others understand it. Knowing which kind you hear matters when a detail may be trusted as a fact.

Try it with two texts

First, hear: «A dragon slept under the bridge.» A dragon under a bridge is a sign of pretend, so mark it made up. Next, hear: «A robin has red feathers on its chest.» Look at a bird book or watch a robin; this can be checked, so mark it real. The check is the important step.

A picture is not proof

A child may think a picture makes every story real, because pictures show things we can see. But an illustrator can draw a talking cat or a castle in the clouds. Ask whether the event could be checked, not only whether the picture looks clear.

Where it helps

At home, a pretend story can invite play, while a real notice tells you when the library closes. In a book, a story about a bear may be invented, but a page about what bears eat may be checked. This helps you know when to imagine and when to ask for evidence.

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