Volume 12 : Issue 12.1 (2025)

The Impact of Digital Storytelling on Children's Imagination and Creativity: Nurturing Holistic Development

Digital storytelling integrates narrative traditions with multimedia tools, offering a dynamic framework for children’s self expression and creative exploration. By combining text, images, audio, and interactivity, DST engages multiple sensory modalities to foster imaginative thinking and cognitive flexibility in young learners. Empirical evidence indicates that elementary and secondary students participating in DST projects demonstrate significant gains in divergent thinking, originality, and narrative competence. A systematic review by Isaacs et al. (2024) confirms that DST effectively develops 21st century competencies, including creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Jiang and Zhang (2023) report marked improvements in students’ fluency, flexibility, and novelty of ideas following DST interventions. In the Indian context, the National Education Policy (2020) and the NDLI Club initiative both advocate for digital pedagogies like DST to support holistic child development. A pilot study by NCERT demonstrated enhanced mathematical creativity and problem solving skills among Class 8 students using DST in numeracy instruction. School implementations from preschool to secondary levels report enhanced narrative empathy, expressive language, and collaborative imagination, demonstrating DST’s capacity to engage learners across developmental stages. UNESCO’s digital education frameworks recognize DST as a means to promote inclusive, equitable, and quality learning worldwide. Grounded in constructivist and sociocultural theories, DST encourages active meaning making and peer collaboration, enriching both cognitive and socio emotional domains. Challenges such as digital access disparities and teacher training requirements must be addressed to ensure equitable implementation. Strategic investments in infrastructure, professional development, and scaffolded project designs are recommended to maximize DST’s impact. Overall, DST emerges as a powerful educational approach that nurtures imagination, creativity, and holistic growth in children.

Digital Storytelling, Imagination, Creativity, Holistic Development, Digital Pedagogy

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