[retro64]

Start with stories where you sit down next to them on the couch and make them the main character. Just make it up as you go, doesn't have to be wild fantasy, can be anything. When you come to a decision point ask them "what do you do?". Then weave their decision into the story. Make it fun, make them the hero and never leave the story hanging at that age (they need to feel safe). You don't need dice and such yet, and even when they're older you can still keep it up. Builds fun memories too.

[zach_garwood]

I used to do this with my niece, who is now old enough to actually play table top. I still remember a couple of the weirdest stories we came up with together.

[retro64]

I have memories from this as well. I have a recording someplace (physical tape) that I made on one occasion. Hope I can find it again someday. Then all I need is some way to play it :)

[ra120271]

I like the point of making sure it closes off the story and always feeling safe. I’m going to play with this thinking some more. Thank you.

[yamtaddle]

Bonus: if you do a very good job, you may end up writing Alice in Wonderland.

[ra120271]

That’s so coincidentally funny. The most recent story we’ve made up is a cat sleeping in the living room gets woken up by a toy sized steam train chuffing towards a mouse hole tunnel. The cat leaps after the train, hits the hole and is transported to a humanoid cat land where he’s lying on the tracks in front of a full sized train tunnel. Below lies a new world to explore.