Multidisciplinary research indicates the importance of storytelling in child development, most recently exploring the evolved nature of language and narrative. Many questions remain about how children develop competence within such a vital but highly complex process. The once upon a time concept is present within nearly every human language on Earth, indicating what a powerful hold storying has over human beings and what a central role it plays within human societies. Sue Lyle proposes that human beings are above all, storytelling animals. Emergent questions include whether and how current mass-produced storytelling products and interactive media developed by Western technology impact childrens competence in the human storying process and, in particular, whether such rapid change should be approached with more reflection and caution than is currently the case. In this article, I will consider the process of child development with respect to language and storying, the traditional role of stories and make-believe in the fabric of childrens lives, how this has changed in the recent past in technologically advancing societies, and how such change may impact childrens learning and development.
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