Storytelling is an age-old tradition that has been a potent tool in the early years of child development. It helps children learn moral values and life lessons and develop insights into the world around them in an enthralling and memorable way. This art form ingeniously uses interactive words and tonal variations to expose different components of the story, stirring their emotions and keeping them engaged. Children connect with the situations deeply, enabling them to learn how to deal with their emotions.
But it’s not that easy to pick up any story. So, EuroKids Head of Curriculum Development, Dr Anita Madan shared with HT Digital some tips and tricks to teach life lessons and values to children through storytelling:
Power of storytelling
The first and foremost thing that a parent should remember is to select stories that deeply resonate with young minds and carry thoughtful messages. It’s not just about any story; the narrative must align with the life lessons and values you want to impart and mirror the child’s challenges or aspirations. One should look for stories that promote tolerance, kindness, empathy, and other essential values that will deeply resonate with young minds and help shape their character.
Character development
Selecting the proper story is crucial because characters set the tone for the narrative and emerge as role models for kids, imparting moral lessons like kindness and empathy. As children engage with characters, they learn valuable life lessons by observing the choices and behaviours of these characters. Fictional characters such as Harry Potter, Matilda, Frodo, and Albus Dumbledore inspire millions of children. Their stories showcase their experiences, which offer lessons in resilience, bravery, and the value of doing the right thing.
Getting The Tale Correct
Descriptive language paints a vivid picture of the tale that helps children immerse themselves and understand the characters and perspectives. Hence, good narration is critical to a good story to capture the child’s attention. Engaging dialogue and character interactions foster critical thinking about the character’s decisions, while suspense and twists keep children anxiously anticipating what happens next.
Need For Diversity
It is very crucial to involve stories from diverse cultures, as it expands the child’s worldview and fosters an environment of tolerance and inclusivity among children. Exposure to diverse narratives broadens their perspectives and introduces children to diversity, helping them understand and appreciate various customs, traditions, and beliefs.
Involvement Of Parents
Parents play a key role in reinforcing the lessons learned through storytelling. Storytelling sessions at home foster and deepen the relationship between parents and children. Parents may reinforce the life lessons and values from stories by discussing them with their children and relating them to real-life situations. To ensure a consistent message at home and school, parents can choose stories that reflect the values and beliefs of their family.
Dr Anita Madan said, “Structured techniques are needed to determine the impact and effectiveness of storytelling that evaluate a child’s understanding of the values and life lessons taught through stories, quizzes, projects, or discussions in nurturing well-rounded individuals. One should regularly collect feedback from teachers, parents, and children themselves to know how well storytelling shapes children’s minds. Parents should note that the questions must focus on the impact on behaviour, lessons learned, and whether the storytelling sessions are fun and engaging.”
“This age-old tradition is a great trick to shape young minds and create a nurturing environment. Storytelling is not just a form of entertainment but a powerful tool that aids the mental upbringing of the child and moulds young hearts and minds, paving the way for a more empathetic, brighter, and open-minded future,” she concluded.
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