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Connect Through the Magic of Storytelling by Christa Melnyk Hines
“Why do you have a badger skin?” inquired my six-year-old nephew. My family, along with a small group of other adults and children, formed a semicircle in the shadowy quiet of a reconstructed Native American encampment earth lodge at a children’s nature center. Christine Freeman, an employee, had been guiding us through the Kanza Indians’ lifestyle, showing us how the Plains’ tribe crafted bows and arrows and used turtle shells for soup bowls and as calendars. She reached over and picked up the skin. “This is actually a raccoon,” she said as she placed it over her shoulder. Sitting down, she ran her hand along the fluffy, circled tail. “If you have time for a story, I’ll tell you how the animals worked out night and day,” she said.
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We all leaned in a little closer. By listening to Freeman recount the myth about the animals, we learned how Native Americans taught their children why days are split into nighttime and daytime.
alone in our human experiences. Stories serve to entertain, inspire, teach compassion and other values, and stoke admiration and respect for the generations of individuals who came before us. Studies also show that storytelling enhances a child’s language development, emergent reading, and comprehension skills. “A story is a way to be in connection with our children and be in empathy and sympathy with them without giving advice or laying down the law,” says Robin Moore, professional storyteller and author of Creating a Family Storytelling Tradition: Awakening the Hidden Storyteller. A penny for your thoughts? Nicole Keck, mom of three boys, ages 6, 4, and 2, found storytelling is like a window into her children’s minds. Her sons take turns telling stories before bedtime. “(The stories) may be funny or serious, true or fiction. We like that it gives us precious insights into what they’re thinking about,” Keck says. “Knowing what makes them tick is an invaluable tool in guiding and supporting them. Besides, they’re very witty, and it’s just great entertainment!”
Freeman, who is also a mom of two adult sons, knows that her audience is more likely to listen and retain the information when she weaves information into a story. “Storytelling is ageless. It appeals to everyone,” she says. “With children, it’s a great way to catch their attention.”
Expand creativity. Just like imaginative play, stories help children sort through problems and work through issues. “The more stories that kids can relate to others, the more ability they have to use their imagination and to become problem solvers,” says Joyce Slater, a professional storyteller and performing arts teacher.
Learn through storytelling. Stories put our experiences into perspective, comforting us with the knowledge that we aren’t
Research suggests that families who tell stories report higher levels of happiness, closeness, and adaptability.
