Climb the Story Mountain: Helping Your Child Write a Great Story

Have you ever sat down with your child to write a story, only to stare at a blank page together, wondering where to begin? Many kids love the idea of storytelling but need a little structure to bring their imagination to life. That is where Story Mountain, also known as Freytag’s Pyramid, comes in.

Think of Story Mountain as a roadmap that takes your child’s story from “Once upon a time” to “The end” without getting lost in between. It is simple, visual, and fun, and it teaches kids how every great story has a beginning, middle, and end.

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Step 1: The Beginning (Exposition)

This is the base of the mountain, where your child sets the stage. Ask:

• Who is the main character?

• Where does the story take place?

• What is normal life like before something changes?

Encourage your child to paint a picture with words. Maybe the story starts in a quiet village, a noisy classroom, or even outer space.

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Step 2: The Rising Action

Now we are climbing. This is where the tension builds and challenges appear. Ask your child:

• What problem or goal does your character face?

• What obstacles make it harder?

You can say, “Let’s think of three things that make your character’s day more complicated.” This keeps the story exciting and helps kids learn how to build suspense.

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Step 3: The Climax

This is the peak of the mountain, the “big moment.” Something major happens here that changes everything. Maybe your character faces their biggest fear or finally solves the mystery. Help your child think about how their character feels in this moment. Is it scary, exciting, or surprising?

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Step 4: The Falling Action

After the big moment, things start to calm down. The character begins to solve the problem or deal with what happened. Ask:

• What happens right after the climax?

• How does your character react or start to fix things?

This helps your child wrap up loose ends while keeping readers interested.

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Step 5: The Resolution

Finally, your story reaches the bottom of the mountain again, where everything settles. What lesson did the character learn? How are things different from the beginning?

This step helps children see that stories are not just about events; they are about growth and change.

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Pro Tip

You can even draw the Story Mountain together. Use a big piece of paper and label each section. Let your child jot down notes or doodle ideas at each point. Turning it into a creative visual project makes the writing process feel less like “work” and more like an adventure.

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Questions to Spark Imagination

• What is something exciting that could happen to your character?

• How would they handle a big problem?

• What do they learn by the end?

• If your story had a movie trailer, what would be the most exciting moment?

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The Big Takeaway

Writing does not have to be overwhelming. With Story Mountain, kids learn that every great tale has ups, downs, and a satisfying ending, and parents can guide them every step of the way.

So grab a pencil or keyboard, climb that mountain together, and watch your child’s storytelling confidence grow.

At Teacher Jade’s Writing Academy, we specialize in helping students turn creative sparks into full, structured stories while giving parents the tools to support them at home. Check out our self-paced writing courses to see how your child can become a confident storyteller.