The art of storytelling has long occupied a space that transcends mere entertainment, serving as a thread connecting people and generations worldwide. For centuries, heritage, language, and cultural identity have been conveyed through folk tales, myths, legends, and oral histories, functioning as a powerful means of transmitting values and fostering a sense of belonging. In the 21st century, storytelling is not a lost art; rather, it has adapted to align with the ever-changing media landscape. In an era where children have unprecedented access to content that is globally homogenised and often disconnected from their specific roots, fostering an interest in traditional and folk stories becomes increasingly vital. So, how can we achieve this?
Kids today are curious, tech-savvy, and learn best through interaction and play. Sitting quietly and listening isn’t always enough to keep their attention. To truly engage them, we need to tell stories in a way that matches how they like to learn: through activity, sound, and choice. If you’ve ever noticed your child repeating phrases from American YouTube channels or struggling to relate to stories from your own youth and culture, you’ve already seen this disconnect at work. In an age of digital immersion, how can we make sure our children stay grounded in their roots?
The Power of Interactivity
Rather than resist technology, we must use it creatively to breathe new life into traditional stories. Storytelling has always adapted, from oral traditions and scrolls to books, radio, and film. Now, interactive audiobooks are the next evolution, an approach which allows children to engage with folklore in enjoyable, hands-on ways that honour tradition while embracing the future.
Take Ireland, for example, a country with a rich and proud storytelling tradition. Irish storytellers, or seanchaithe and scéalaí, passed down stories like The Children of Lir, The Salmon of Knowledge, and Oisín in Tír na nÓg are tales rich with humour, wisdom, and culture. But today, outside of schools and Irish-speaking (Gaeltacht) regions, many children don’t experience these stories. That’s where interactive audiobooks can change everything. Through immersive soundscapes, character voices, and decision-making, children become active participants in stories, where they can act as Oisín making a difficult decision to help the men or remain on the horse in Oisín in Tír na nÓg, or become Fionn mac Cumhaill, filled with all the wisdom in the world in The Salmon of Knowledge. Through this, they hear the Irish language used not as a school subject, but as something alive, accessible, and enjoyable.
The Problem
- Cultural Disconnection: Traditional stories are being lost outside schools and heritage spaces.
- Loss of Language: Heritage languages are rarely heard in daily life.
- Passive Media Consumption: Most modern content doesn’t invite participation.
- Perceived Irrelevance: Children often see their own culture as outdated.
The Solution
We must meet children where they are: on screens, through headphones, and in the digital spaces where they learn and play. When we accept that today’s kids are digital natives, we also recognise that they learn best through doing, choosing, and interacting.
Interactive storytelling reimagines tradition, rather than replacing it. It allows children to:
- Make decisions that influence outcomes
- Hear and speak heritage languages in familiar contexts
- Connect emotionally with characters and themes from their own culture
Stories come alive, not as assignments or history lessons, but as adventures.
Photo by Dhruv vishwakarma
A Personal and Cultural Lens – Rebecca Fischer (aventu – media and publishing expert)
Few countries illustrate the connection between culture and storytelling like Ireland. From fireside tales to schoolbooks, Irish stories reflect the land, the language, and the spirit of its people. Yet despite strong national pride, many children, and even adults, feel distanced from the language and stories of their ancestors.
As someone with two native languages and two cultural heritages, I’ve seen how easily that connection can fade. Despite a deep pride in my identity, I’ve often wished I had a stronger grasp of my national language. What happens when our children only see one side of themselves in the media they consume? How do we make them proud of their cultural roots, instead of feeling burdened by them?
Interactive storytelling offers a joyful way back in. When a child makes choices alongside a mythic hero or laughs at a character’s missteps in their heritage language, they’re not just learning, they’re living the story. A grandparent and grandchild can now share The Salmon of Knowledge not just as a memory, but as a co-experience, tradition meets technology, past meets present.
The Benefits
In the short term:
- Children are more engaged and attentive
- Language learning becomes natural and joyful
- Cultural stories become exciting and memorable
In the long term:
- Children develop cultural confidence and pride
- Storytelling becomes an intergenerational tradition
- Creativity and identity deepen through a sense of heritage
Imagine a grandparent sharing a beloved story through an interactive audiobook, building new memories, connecting generations, and letting old wisdom live on in new ways. Thanks to interactive tools, old stories don’t just sit on shelves. They come to life in headphones, on screens, and in young imaginations. By blending tradition with technology, we’re not just preserving the past. We’re carrying it forward.
Cover photo by Giuseppe Argenziano
