What role does storytelling play in developing comprehension skills?

Storytelling plays a significant role in developing comprehension skills by helping children build connections and visualize content. When children listen to or participate in storytelling, they engage with the narrative structure, which includes characters, setting, and plot. This engagement encourages them to make connections between the story and their own experiences, which is crucial for deepening understanding.

Moreover, storytelling allows for the visualization of events and emotions, helping children to create mental images of the narrative. This visual and emotional involvement enhances their ability to remember details and grasp the underlying themes of the story. By actively engaging with the story, children also practice inferencing, predicting outcomes, and summarizing events, all of which are essential comprehension skills.

The other options do not accurately capture the beneficial aspects of storytelling in relation to comprehension skills. Specifically, storytelling does not promote mere memorization; instead, it fosters active engagement and critical thinking. It does not replace reading; rather, it complements reading by providing a rich context that can enhance children's understanding of the texts they read. Additionally, storytelling encourages engagement with broader concepts rather than limiting it, as it can introduce diverse perspectives and ideas that children can explore further.