Set up five or six stuffed animals or figures in a row, facing a cleared space. Tell the child: 'Your audience is ready. They want to hear a story.' Then leave. Children who appear unimaginative in unstructured settings will often perform elaborate narratives when given an audience. Even an inanimate one. The setup provides the social structure that solo play otherwise lacks.

What you need

5–8 stuffed animals or toy figures arranged as an audience

How to do it

1Arrange five to eight stuffed animals or figures in a row facing an open space, then say: "Your audience is here. They've been waiting for a story."
2Leave the room. Do not return until invited.

Variations

If they say 'I don't have a story': answer only 'Whatever they need to hear' once, then leave anyway — don't wait for a better answer or offer story ideas.
Built-in ending: not returning until invited makes the finale the child's call — when they come get you, that's the curtain call, no separate announcement needed.

💡 Parent tip

If the child says 'but what do I tell them?' answer only: 'Whatever they need to hear.' Then leave. One redirection only. The ambiguity is the mechanism.

What your child develops

Narrative construction — performing a story requires a beginning, problem, and resolution
Emotional processing — children often work through real situations through play narratives with a safe imaginary cast
Vocabulary and language development — speaking for an audience pushes children toward more complete, expressive language