Telling stories is a terrific way to help your child get ready for school. As a matter of fact, telling stories benefits all of us. A University of California scientist and professor, Dr. George Lakoff, has found that humans are hard-wired for stories. The context of a story can make a concept come to life, making it easier to understand. Stories harness the power of the imagination to help us learn and remember. Thinking strategies are stretched when listening to and following along with stories and language skills are exercised.
Telling stories can be simple and easy. Once upon a time, there was a little boy/girl who woke up one morning and…Fill in the rest of the story with what’s happening to your little one that day. Or make up a story about anything else, perhaps, the adventures of a pet, a rock, a piece of fruit, a shoe, etc. Maybe the plate and the cup are having a conversation. As children grow and develop stories can be more complex and involved. Kids particularly enjoy the stories grandmas and grandpas tell about what their parents did when they were young. Include the traditional stories of the 3 Little Pigs, the 3 Bears, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, too. I admit some of these are not politically correct but they do meet an emotional need in children. T is for telling stories and all kinds of tales, short, tall or in-between. Do you remember a much-loved story?