How to Tell Stories to Children
A step-by-step guide for parents and teachers
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- £6.49
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- £6.49
Publisher Description
'The best stories are told by the ones who know us deeply. And if you lack confidence, then here is loads of help' Steve Biddulph
'This book will help promote storytelling as a key education tool' Dr Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder, UN Messenger of Peace
Storytelling is one of the oldest and most essential skills known to humankind - it is also one of the best ways to help us raise healthy, well-adjusted kids, teaching them how to manage their emotions, build empathy and navigate life's complexities. In cultivating a meaningful bond between storyteller and listener, it builds intimacy and trust between parent and child.
In this delightful book, early childhood educators Silke Rose West and Joseph Sarosy distill the key ingredients of storytelling into a surprisingly simple method that can make anyone an expert storyteller. Their intuitive technique uses events and objects from your child's daily life to make storytelling easy and accessible. By shifting the focus from crafting a narrative to strengthening your relationship with your child, this book will awaken skills you never knew you had.
Complete with practical advice, helpful prompts, and a touch of science to explain how stories enrich our lives in so many ways, How to Tell Stories to Children is a must-read for parents, grandparents and teachers.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The Storytelling Loop blogger Sarosy and Waldorf teacher West debut with a heartfelt and insightful guide to building "intimacy and trust between parent (or teacher) and child" via stories. "The goal," they write, "is not to create the world's most engrossing narrative, but simple day-to-day stories that kids relate to," and across nine chapters they show how stories can relieve stress, soothe a sick child, teach good behavior, and help with learning. Stories are a great way to give children attention, they write, and to that end give practical advice: start when children are young, and create regular verbal cues to begin ("Once upon a time," for example). Sample stories illustrate where tales can go and what they can teach—examples featuring gnomes in roadway pipes, turtles who feel burdened by their shells, and turkey vultures who fall in love are peppered throughout. The authors' focus on "intuitive storytelling," in which no planning is required, will be appreciated by parents who already feel like they're stretched beyond capacity: "Whatever you choose, find something that feels natural to you. There is a lot of room for variety. Simplicity is the rule." Parents will walk away smitten with stories—and ready to tell some.
