I had a chance to interview the author, Kate Farrell to learn more. You can also learn more on the Storytelling for Everyone blog.
Why is storytelling so important?
Today, our homes contain an array of digital devices: We are living in an electronic surround. We are connected by screens and devices large and small, an unavoidable part of life during this time of the coronavirus crisis. But screen time has a downside for children. We can lose the close, personal connection needed for young children to thrive. Bonding between caregivers and the very young is critical—through touch, gaze, and conversation.
We parents and caregivers can hope to limit screen time, but what can we do instead of watching TV, streaming movies, gaming, or scrolling through social media? Regardless of the ever-present screens, we can take heart knowing that children are hardwired to love traditional storytelling.
Traditional storytelling is a timeless art that has great value in the home, particularly in early childhood. The intimate bonding between teller and listener creates a deep connection, vital in the first years. Indeed, the shared storytelling experience can provide a safe space within the home, where magical, wonderful events take place and end with a satisfying conclusion.
Reading picture books is an excellent activity for the very young, especially when it fosters conversation and retellings. But the art of storytelling is even more basic, not only for its intimacy, but because it draws from a worldwide store of traditional stories—handed down by word of mouth over centuries.
Once you begin sharing the special magic of storytelling with the children in your care, the sheer joy of doing so will motivate you to tell stories again and again. The literary-rich experience of traditional storytelling prepares children in their earliest years for future reading success. When their attention is captured by a rhyme or a folktale with a clear pattern of action, they visualize what’s happening. They sense the rise and fall of the storyline, and respond to its emotion from clues a storyteller gives in tone and facial expressions.
How has storytelling changed over the years?
In the past, storytelling was a natural part of everyday home life, with family stories shared around the kitchen table, or familiar folktales told at bedtime, like "The Three Bears" or the "Three Little Pigs." These days, parents rely on picture books or animated versions of folktales, as in the Disney movies.
But there are easy ways to recapture that practice of storytelling in the home. Here are some ideas from the blog:The many benefits of oral storytelling are: emotional bonding and sense of well-being, creative imagination, and listening/speaking skills.
TELLING TRUE STORIES
Retelling the child’s daily events at bedtime is a simple way to capture his or her experience in a story sequence. Recounting the happenings of the child in a story format provides a frame or a reframing of them in a meaningful way—it can make sense of what might have been chaotic or upsetting. While building the capacity to remember details and oral fluency, this personal narrative also can calm the child.
Tips for Telling: Encourage the child to remember details and sequence by asking, “What happened next?” or “Did we go to the park next?” Develop a consistent way to end the daily story, such as “Then Daddy tucked her in and turned out the light, and said ‘Good night; sleep tight.'” This type of reassuring ritual creates a safety net, as all ends well. The bond between caregiver and child is reinforced through the intimate sharing of this personal tale.
YOUR CHILDHOOD STORIES
Telling your own childhood memories can be among the most important stories you tell. Children love to hear about your adventures and how they turned out. It deepens the bond of shared experience, since the child identifies with you and is vicariously involved. He may ask you to tell certain stories again and again—a clue to how he/she most clearly connects with your life. The personal story is an excellent device for bridging generations and reaching out to other family members. Ask grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, caregivers, and siblings to participate.
Tips for Telling: Set aside a quiet time to reflect on a real life incident from your childhood:
· Close your eyes and pinpoint an age, perhaps the current age of your child. Focus on a time when you were five, for example. As random images and fragments rise to the surface:
· Remember a time when you were five and you were happy.
· Remember a time when you were five and you were sad.
· Remember a time when you were five and you were surprised.
· Remember a time when you were five and you were scared.
· Remember a time that was funny.
· Now remember an incident from one of those times that you would like to tell as a story.
· When you have found the story incident, live through it again and open your eyes.
You may want to replay the event more than once. As you do, recollect all sense impressions vividly. Hear, see, smell, taste, feel all the sights, sounds, objects of your experience. Feel the emotions once more. Rehearse the dialogue.
Frame the story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, such as:
One day when I was (age), I was living (where) & (with) .
That day, I _________ (what happened?)
because of that (what happened?)
because of that (what happened?)
UNTIL (story climax).
After that,______________________(Ending).
HOMESPUN WISDOM
And there you have it, the very stuff of homespun, storytelling wisdom! These are the stories only you can tell. Personal narratives from all the generations are vital to the continuation of family history and identity. You might want to record and store these precious tales as audio or video files. If a relative is not close by, you could ask him to tell a story over a video platform or record a phone conversation.
Why did you write this book?
I wrote Story Power to recapture the rich exchange of the oral tradition in our contemporary culture, to reconnect in our disconnected times. Stories are powerful: Stories define us and create the narratives that construct our lives. Personal stories are universal: They illuminate our common ground and connect us in compelling ways when we share them. The art of storytelling helps us communicate with others, discover ourselves, inspire and embolden us. By telling the pivotal stories of our lives, we invite transformation.
Can you share a little bit about the Word Weaving Storytelling Project?
Can you share a little bit about the Word Weaving Storytelling Project?
The Word Weaving Storytelling Project was a state-wide teacher training program in partnership with the California State Department of Education, and funded by grants from the Zellerbach Family Fund, San Francisco, during the 1980s and early 90s. We trained thousands of teachers in the art of storytelling as a teaching strategy, using multicultural folklore and other classic literature. It was an amazing success, but ended when the CA Board of Education changed educational policies. We were able to publish many ideas with Scholastic and Highlights for Children when the Word Weaving Storytelling Project ended. More information is on my About page: https://katefarrell.net/about/
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