Growing up, you probably had activities with your family that you recognized as traditions, even though you didn’t call them that. They were done without fail, and you probably never questioned why your parents thought they were important. You just did them. Many families do these things, like eat at the table together, take trips as a family, sit around the fireplace and play games on a winter night.
If you had such traditions growing up, you probably have fond memories of them. Now that you are a parent, in an era when so much about family life has changed, you may be wondering if activities like these are practical or even important anymore. The answer is a resounding “Yes!”.
In this blog post, we’re going to look at the basics of establishing an especially beneficial tradition with your kids: Storytelling. Let’s start by examining why storytelling is so important for your child:
Words, language and ultimately storytelling are key to unlocking the eventual ability to read, and the subsequent ability to learn. Which is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children.
But the benefits of storytelling to our children go way beyond the literacy argument.
Storytelling also broadens the imagination, and can even help children make sense of things going on within their lives that they haven’t been able to deal with previously. Scientific studies also suggest that storytelling can also help a child develop socials skills such as the ability to empathise with others (presumably by having put them into someone else’s shoes through the medium of a story). Read more at Yotoplay…
Increasing the imagination of a child is crucial not only for their cognitive development, but also for expanding their ability to see the world in new and wonderful ways. This is important because when these leaders of tomorrow can envision a bright future, they can help bring it about.
One of the things we all recognize is that our children are increasingly experiencing life through a device. This leads to a form of isolation that has been documented in studies. Storytelling and story time is an opportunity to introduce a critical human connection to their world. The following post explains this in detail:
Why is Storytelling Important to Children in This Digital World?
Nowadays, we spend most of our free time glued to the screens of mobile phones, tablets or other such gadgets. It appears as though we are depending on gadgets to not only make our lives comfortable but also fulfill our emotional needs.
However, despite advancements in technology, gadgets remain devoid of the ‘human touch’. Therefore, a conversation with our loved ones is always special and makes us feel good. And has it ever struck you that our conversations with others are nothing but a collage of stories! The same holds true for children as well. They too love to converse, hear a story or make one and tell it to others. Read more at Parent Circle…
In addition to providing the benefits we’ve discussed, you can also establish your child’s value system and sense of identity by thoughtfully selecting the stories you share. Read the following for more details:
The Importance & Benefits of Family Storytelling
Do you tell family stories to your kids & grandkids?
There are many benefits to storytelling. Stories that have meaningful messages can instill virtues in your child; they can make them aware of their own culture and roots, opening them up to their family’s customs and traditions. Storytelling can improve your child’s listening skills, language skills, and sharpen his or her memory. On a deeper level, however, telling your children family stories can help your child form his or her identity. Read more at Friends Life Care…
You probably haven’t thought about it, but storytelling is also an excellent way to teach children a second language. At Spanish for fun!, helping your son or daughter learn Spanish through captivating stories is an essential component of our teaching method. We also invite you to join us for our special Spanish Story Time program every second Thursday of the month at our Cary campus.
Spanish for fun! is an accredited Spanish-immersion preschool where children learn and develop through purposeful play-based activities. Your child will acquire the language while gaining an appreciation for Spanish culture. Both of these outcomes will offer your youngster a lifetime of advantages.
Get in touch with us today to schedule a tour of any of our four campuses. Call 919-881-1160 or complete the form on our website and we’ll contact you. We look forward to showing you why your child will thrive with us.