Wit & Wisdom
Roger Jenkins
storyteller
storyteller
© Roger Jenkins 2011 Made With Serif WebPlus.
Storytelling based on folktales is a timeless way of teaching children the consequences of good and bad decisions as well as imparting morals and values. So if you want your child to embrace such concepts as generosity, compassion and responsibility then skip the lecture and cloak your sermon in the guise of a tale. It will be much more readily swallowed.
"Stories teach with images and narration rather than fact," says storyteller Peninnah Schram. "These are the lessons that stay with us forever and get passed down from generation to generation. And, when we need to recall these lessons, we dip into the story as the well of wisdom, the wisdom of the ages."
Stories go a long way in supporting your child's cognitive and emotional development. Listening to a story can allow a child to vicariously encounter frightening or difficult situations and process their fears in a safe environment, says Diane de Las Casas.
Bonding: Story time is a wonderful way for parents (and grandparents) to connect with their children and share a piece of their family history, leaving children with a legacy of memories and a sense of identity. If a parent interests a child in a story, the child focuses on the parent as a real person with interesting things to say. Having fun together through storytelling requires no money, and promotes a close relationship because, rather than concentrating on an amusement ride or video machine, the parent and child are focusing on each other.
Storytelling is a special time, a time when your attention is focused solely on your child. Whether you are telling a folktale, reliving a family drama or making up a bedtime story, your child will have special memories of your together time.
TIPS FOR TELLING STORIES
Easier read than said? Remember that we are all storytellers -- it's the way we naturally communicate. You tell your in-laws about the things your child does. You tell your friends about your weekend events. These are all stories to share. Your audience is forgiving and loving and any attempts to tell, however wobbly in the beginning, will be met with enjoyment and wonder.
Easier read than said? Remember that we are all storytellers -- it's the way we naturally communicate. You tell your in-laws about the things your child does. You tell your friends about your weekend events. These are all stories to share. Your audience is forgiving and loving and any attempts to tell, however wobbly in the beginning, will be met with enjoyment and wonder.
The easiest way to begin is to make up stories starring your own child. For the very young, a simple plotline that recounts the day from good morning kisses to bedtime lullaby is a winner.
Tell me about the time… Children love to hear about their parents when they were young. Having a hard time remembering that far back?... Who was your best friend? Did you have a secret hiding place? What was the bravest thing you ever did? How did you get your nickname? Or, try starting with: "Once, when Grandma wasn't looking..." or, "I'll never forget the day..."
Family albums speak volumes for a family's history. Find a special photo and tell the story of the day the picture was taken. What was the weather like the day you brought baby home from hospital? Do you remember your excitement the first time you rode the Ferris wheel? Or, ask the child to make up the story that they think accompanies the photo.
Folktales are made for telling. Read folktales from around the world or share folktales which are significant to your heritage.
Re-tell the story in your own words. Even classics such as Goldilocks, Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella can be told with your own "voice" and your own ending.
Twist a tale: set a classic tale in modern times or locally. Little Red Samfoo took the MRT to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve… Or, retell a story from another character's point of view. What if Grandma tells the story of the day the wolf came for lunch? Use a puppet to tell?)
Elaborate and exaggerate: Have fun with the story and elaborate with dramatic facial expressions and different voices. Imagine what happens next:
Continue a story after the last page. What really happens after the prince gives Sleeping Beauty a kiss?
Bring toys to life: make up a story starring your child's favorite toy
On-line training in storytelling
for parents by the National Library
for parents by the National Library
