Once Upon a Time

Were you one of those lucky children who lived with a born storyteller full of mesmerizing adventures and tall tantalizing tales? While everyone knows the importance of reading to children, the benefits of oral storytelling are often overlooked.

Storytelling teaches children how to listen deeply without the support of text and pictures. It allows them to visualize characters independently of the author. It strengthens brain development as children remember a sequence of events. It trains growing brains to be flexible maneuvering around an unwritten narrative structure. In today's highly visual world, the benefits of oral storytelling are more important than ever.

So get ready. With a few simple tips, you can become your child's favorite story teller!

Keep it simple
Stories don't have to be original. Start by retelling things that have already happened. Children love hearing about when they were babies and they love hearing about the day they were born. Choose an event that has special meaning to you and tap into to the emotions behind the events. Then let the story tell itself. Or, if you need a little time to build up your confidence, retell stories from your favorite books.

Connect with your audience
Your child will give you clear signals of the best way to "work" a story. Pay attention to his reactions and be ready to embellish at those places. If his eyes open wide at a certain point, use your voice or your face to emphasize the moment.

Feel free to invite audience participation too. You can ask your child "what do you think happened next?" and run with the story in a new direction. Ask what she might do if she was in the story. Storytelling is always personal.

Create a ritual around your storytelling
You might begin all of your stories the same way or they might be told in the same place each time. Simple words like "once upon a time" signal to everyone to settle in for something special. Or, "let's all blink our eyes three times and we'll go somewhere far far away." Repetition creates a ritual. Whether your stories are told in the car, by candlelight, or on a blanket in the grass, you can create a routine that makes your storytelling something magical.

Add a little whimsy
Once you're in the groove, you'll be ready to stretch your imagination. There are no rules for storytelling. Cows can fly and fish can sing. Be fearless. Be silly. Take a chance. You'll be teaching your child to do the same all the while awakening his imagination. Before you know it, you're favorite audience will be telling stories to you!

© Family Time Inc. 2006

Karen Deerwester is the owner of Family Time Coaching & Consulting, writing and lecturing on parenting and early childhood topics since 1984. Karen is also the Mommy & Me director at The Ruth and Edward Taubman Early Childhood Center at B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton.