Tell tales to build language skills
Date :
Monday, June 21 2010
Source:
Autourina Mains
At breakfast one morning, one of my two-year olds said “I was a cute baby when I was born.” Not only did that put a smile on my face, but right away I knew that this little guy has been hearing stories of his birth and infancy. Most everybody is aware of the importance of reading to children, but many folks underestimate the importance of storytelling. Storytelling is an ancient method of handing down family history, world history, traditions and cultures. Many cultures have a form of storytelling that varies from ancient mythology to religious beliefs. In the old times when few people were literate, parents told their children stories and some were even enacted in community plays. I remember when I was a little girl in Iran, many storyteller passed through the city and I loved listening to the stories.
Toddler can benefit greatly from listening to stories:
· When you are reading a book, the book has pictures to help tell the story, but when you are telling a story (not using any books) the toddler has to use his/her imagination which builds cognitive skills.
· Helps develop sequencing skills
· Increase vocabulary
· Helps build communication skills and listening skills
· Helps the toddler pick up on how sentences are structured
· Builds a strong bond between the parents and the toddler
· Storytelling can be used to teach manners, rules and build character
Your story does not have to be lengthy and it can be about when your toddler was born or what he did when he was a baby. There are many short stories, nursery rhymes and fables that can help you teach your toddler good manners and proper behavior or even safety rules. Aesop’s fables are a wonderful way of teaching little ones about kindness, and goodness and how to be nice to our friends. For instance the story of the lion and the mouse teaches tolerance and respect for all. It also teaches that everyone plays an important role in life regardless of their size or ability.
Tell your child stories about your own childhood, your parents and grandparents. Tell them how you celebrated birthdays and how that tradition is being handed down to him/her (when you celebrate their birthdays). Once I had a little one tell me “Today we are celebrating my 4 ½ birthday.” That was their family tradition and their mom made a round cake, cut in half, stacked it and frosted it (what a wonderful way to teach the concept of half). You can make storytelling your family tradition and pass it down to your children and grandchildren. My children loved hearing stories, especially at bedtime.
Sometimes in the summer they had a “slumber party” in my bedroom and I told them Bible stories. They are all grown up now but they still remember stories of Elijah, Jacob, Joseph and other ancient Biblical characters. As a matter of fact my daughter who is twenty now, is taking music in college. One of the pieces they were playing had to do with the story of Balaam and the talking donkey (a story found in the Bible). Her teacher had asked if anyone knew the story and she raised her hand. He was amazed because he told her that in all the years he has taught music, he has never had a student with the knowledge of that story. She responded “Oh yeah…my mom told us that story when we were little.” So pick up the art of storytelling because not only are you helping your child develop strong communication and language skills but you will also build a life time of memories with your toddler.