The Power of Storytelling With Children
Another successful extension of writing and authoring books is storytelling. It’s an art form, and many writers and authors work diligently to master the craft, connecting with audiences, engaging readers, and ultimately selling more books.
Once limited to gathering around a campfire or sitting at the knee of a grandparent, storytelling is much more than a way to pass down tales of history or legends of another world. Storytelling has, in fact, become an art form of its own and has grown in such popularity that it has a guild, guidelines, and national festivals complete with societies for its professional artists. In fact, storytelling is the guiding principle of Books Uplift.
But what is storytelling?
According to Teresa B. Clark, professional storyteller and board member of the National Storytelling Network, “Storytelling is the sharing of a story through oral narrative. Usually, there are no books, no screens, just a group of listeners and a storyteller or two in front of them using their descriptive voice to share a story.” She cautions that this simplistic definition “falls flat” of the actual art form storytelling has become. “It doesn’t begin to illustrate the rapt wonder on the listener’s faces, or the way the storyteller plays their voice like a fine musical instrument.” Storyteller artists are recognized as performance artists by art commissions and councils throughout the country.
“Many storytellers agree that one is never too young to be touched by the magic of storytelling art, and often, children are the best audience because of their constant need and longing for stories,” ~ Teresa B. Clark.
“Parents should begin at birth,” says Susan Pinkowski, author, illustrator, storyteller, and former librarian. “Telling family stories and retelling the classic tales from books they loved when they were little.” She also explains that in this way, parents are the very first storytellers for their children. “I was amazed when parents would come into the library and want a copy of a book they loved as a child, and they could tell the entire story.”
The positive effects storytelling has on children are numerous. It helps make stories easier to understand and aids visual learners, ESL students, and those with learning barriers to grasp concepts more easily.
“Telling stories also helps children learn effectively,” says Susan. “Children can tell their own stories as soon as they can imagine and verbalize. They learn how to retell stories they have read or make up their own. This helps with comprehension as well as recognizing that they have a voice.
“A child should have someone to ask questions about their story, so they are aware of the fundamentals,” ~ Susan Pinkowski.
“Storytelling is an excellent tool for introducing children to imagery, a vital first step towards literacy,” says Teresa. “When a child learns to tell a story, they learn sequencing effectively.” She says the tools a child gains from telling a story can be shocking.
“I had a student in a storytelling workshop who suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome,” says Teresa. “The teachers told me she would never be able to understand the process of creating a story or tell it. But they forgot to tell her that! She learned to storyboard with the rest of the class, and as she did, something clicked. She ended up telling a story to the entire student body! There wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Not only did she gain skills, but she also improved her ability to communicate. She experienced a triumph that gave her the courage to try new things. She saw beyond her limitations. When I checked back with the school a few months later, they informed me that her math skills had shown a dramatic improvement. After learning to sequence the parts of a story, she was able to apply those thought processes to math!”
The power of storytelling begins at home.
Numerous resources are available to help families interested in storytelling for their children. There are also multiple tools and resources available for aspiring storytellers to hone their craft. Please don’t hesitate to contact your local library for information on storytelling events suitable for all ages. Adults and teens may be surprised at how much they will enjoy hearing and watching an age-appropriate story come to life before their eyes. Plan an adventure or vacation by taking the family to a storytelling festival such as the upcoming one in Spring Grove, Illinois, or the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee.
“Simply tell your family stories, retell old favorite tales, or make up new ones. Like a journey begins with a single step, a story begins with a single word.” ~ Susan Pinkowski.
I hope this article provided you with a few applicable ideas. I would be honored if you shared this on social media. And speaking of sharing, please share your ideas and experiences below. Together, we can build an uplifting community that supports each other’s happiness, well-being, creativity, and success.
