Childcare can be challenging, especially during moments when our energy levels are low and yet our children's needs and curiosity are high. These moments offer a perfect opportunity to connect and engage with our children through the power of storytelling and narrative play. Story games provide a chance to bond and encourage creativity without the need for physical exertion and invite us to delight in the whimsical and imaginative tales our children create. Below are five simple, cost-free story games that require almost no preparation, are designed to enhance your quality time together, and make the most of these storytelling adventures. They also have no, or in once case minimal, items to put away after the playtime.

 1) Popcorn Story Game

The Popcorn Game is silly and can be played quickly by almost anyone, likely ages 2+.  Participants take turns “telling the story,” but are limited to contributing only one word.  Then the next person says their word, and the play continues around the circle until everyone agrees the story has ended.  I love to play this game with all four of my children. We often roll with laughter at the silly sentences and stories that emerge. The popcorn game is ideal for keeping kids entertained during waits, including at the doctor's office, restaurants, or while a parent completes a task.

 2) Pass the story.

Like Popcorn, this is a game in which everyone tells the story.  But with this one, there is no limit to how long the storyteller gets to speak. Each player can as tell as much or as little as they want, and then pass the story to the next person.  The story goes on until everyone has had a turn to talk.  The last player is tasked with ending the story and tying up all the loose ends. 
For players who elaborate too much, pass the storytelling role at the first decision point, encouraging them to ask the next storyteller, "What happened next?" This multigenerational game is ideal for large family gatherings, holiday parties, and car rides. It allows everyone participating to flex their creativity muscles and strengthen their bonds with one another.

 3) Can I Have A Word?

The idea for this game is similar to freestyle rapping. Players challenge themselves to use specific words within their story. During each round, the other players give the chosen storyteller two to three words that they must incorporate into their tale. Once the story comes to an end, and all the words are used, a new storyteller is chosen and given a new set of words for the next story. The game can be as simple or as complicated as the players wish to make it. To change the difficulty level of the game players can give the storyteller more words to use, add a problem that the storyteller must resolve before the end of the story, or set a time limit for the story.

 5) “What IF” Inference game.

And finally, there is the “What If” inference game. I created this game out of exhaustion following a morning filled with my son repeatedly asking, "How does this work?" Quickly recalling a sixth-grade science lesson, instead of continuing to answer directly, I playfully suggested that gremlins were operating a soda machine because they were trying to earn money to rebuild their lost kingdom. His skeptical look sparked a new game. You begin with someone asking a question. Players take turns responding with, "I don’t know, but what if..." followed by their imaginative conjecture. You continue until all players have given their theory and then decide on the most likely—or more often, the most outlandish—explanation, which wins the game.

We hope you and your children or grandchildren have fun with these imaginative playtime games that are free, portable, and require no clean-up after you are done.