Storytelling is an excellent way to interact with your child. It can be done anywhere and any time such as when riding in the van or at bedtime. We always told stories to our children. One of us could tell stories about the antics of animals on our farm when we were growing up. We could tell what it was like to be able to play in the woods or fish in the creek that ran through our property. After awhile, the kids would ask tohear a specific story such as the one about the horse and the rattlesnake or the one about the brother who slide into second base right into a cow patty. Through the telling of stories our children also learned information about their grandparents whichopened an additional communication bridge for them between past and present. It was very interesting to observe the different storytelling approaches between one parent and another. The kids' dad would make up short stories with the youngest two boys as characters in them. Sometimes, he would change their roles in the stories or have them finish a story. They loved beating the pirates to the treasure chest. Withone cuddled by daddy's side and the other lying on his tummy with his chin propped on hands with his elbows resting on daddy's chest, they listened as intently the hundredth time as they had the first. Repeating stories helps build memory and prediction skills and the boys nor their dad never suspected they were doing any more than spending time together. Telling stories captures attention and imagination. It engages your child in a learning situation. They learn listening skills and develop better levels of comprehension. When you engage in storytelling with your child, you are helping to increase vocabualary and sequential memory skills. Perhaps even better than the brain development that occurs are the memories and bonding that comes once in a lifetime and is absolutely priceless. |
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