Do you tell your child stories about epics and fairies? Learn the art of storytelling with these tips, which will help you become a master at it!
By S Seshadri
Storytelling is an art that has given joy and imagination to kids since the beginning of time. This is a form of art where we talk about an event or series of events, true or imaginary.
Traditionally, grandparents have played the role of storytellers with stories from our Epics or Puranas that have some values to teach. Often, when grandparents are not available, the young mother has to don the role of a storyteller.
Storytelling plays an important part in moulding the child’s personality and value system. Anyone can be a good storyteller with a little practice and a genuine interest in the characters narrated in the stories.
As a mother, you can select suitable stories from various sources – especially the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Jataka tales, Panchatantra, Fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen and Grimms’ Fairy Tales.
Age group - 2 to 5 years: For this age group, the stories must be short and to the point. Stories should talk about familiar things that the child can relate to, like animals, children, home, machines, people, toys, rhymes, humorous and poems, jingles. Typical stories would include: ‘The Three Little Pigs’, ‘The Three Bears’, ‘The Adventures of Little Red Riding Hood’, ‘Thumbelina’ and more.
Age group - 6 to 10 years: Animal tales, stories of children living in other lands, and the ancient and modern fairy tales appeal to this group. Examples of such stories: ‘The Elves and the Shoemaker’, ‘ Rumpelstiltskin’, ‘The Steadfast Tin Soldier’, ‘Hansel and Gretel’, ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’, tales from Panchatantra and our epics.
As a well-prepared storyteller, make sure that each story you tell contains the five basic elements: Action, drama, emotional appeal, a strong beginning, and a satisfying conclusion. In order to supply stories with these characteristics, it is often necessary to rewrite or shorten stories to make them more suitable for a child audience.
Much time and effort are required to prepare a story for narration, but the effort is rewarding. A typical preparation of a story would run as follows:
A few principles relating to storytelling:
Children are imaginative and they can build stories out of home events or classroom activities that are of interest to them. Activity expeditions, gardening, special days, festivals can also give rise to stories. Children enjoy telling stories that are real or imaginary, stories they have read or listened to or something that they have made up on their own. It is their way of sharing a moment with their friends or audience.
If your child is narrating a story, as a parent, listen with interest and encourage the child to:
His turn to tell: You tell the story first. The story may be retold in a few sentences by your child assuming different roles.
Developing a story: You can begin an imaginary story in which you introduce a couple of characters and an action plot. At a given point, you can stop and ask: “Can you go on with the story?” The story can proceed as an oral activity.
Participating in storytelling: On the subsequent telling of the tale, you can pantomime and make the sound which the child can immediately repeat aloud.
Listen to records: Some records may be recordings of stories told by children. Commercial story records may also be used.
Story Arts Online: Storytelling activities, lesson plans, bibliographies and links are featured on this excellent site. Also, features a free newsletter.
The Art of Storytelling: Online story resources, a list of storytellers and organisations as well as links to other storytelling websites.
Handbook for Storytellers: Online text resource with tips and ideas for a variety of storytelling techniques.
Story Games: Extension of the Handbook for Story Tellers website, this has classroom activities that can be used to encourage the storyteller in any student.
Kids Story Telling Club: This fun site features crafts, activities, and stories. Maintained by Story Craft Publishing.
Preschool Education: This site is maintained by Preschool Magazine. Story-telling themes, finger-plays and free downloadable flannel board props are just a few of the great resources that can be found here.
Child Fun: Based on the premise that parenting and teaching children are fun, this site has a wealth of ideas and free props (flannel board and puppet patterns to name a few) for storytelling.
About the expert:
Written by S Seshadri on 1 November 2016.
S Seshadri has a vast experience in the field of school education and training of teachers.
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