when children tell stories

When Children Learn to Tell Stories, the Experience
Provides: A Rationale by Dr. Paschal Baute.

Recently, as a Spellbinder storyteller in four Lexington schools, Cassidy, Deep Springs, Liberty, and Squires, I have been experimenting with inviting children to learn to tell a story and coaching them to do so. They are eager to do so, and want to compete for the privilege of standing in front of their class to demonstrate what they have just learned. The experience for them is exciting and noteworthy. I want to suggest this opportunity well worth developing for its many benefits. One librarian where I have told for three years, said my last storytelling session there, doing this, was my best session ever.

If we are touching something dealing with language skills, speaking and listening and self-presentation in front of a group, with children excited and eager to do so, I suggest we have tapped a valuable resource for literacy development, even social and emotional development, possibily even leadership skills.

Could this possibly be an overlooked and hidden treasure in the educational challenges of today? George Lakoff, Berkeley Professor of Cognitive Science states that metaphor and story are the natural way children learn, that the human mind is hardwired for story and metaphor.

Others are presenting similar views and experience. Business leaders are promoting storytelling as “the secret language of leadership.” (Steve Denning, Annette Simmons and others)
Youth Storytelling festivals are developing,

Here is a brief summary of the benefits to children of learning to tell stories. They:

1) Increases their communicating skills; 2) Exercises their imagination; 3) have actual experience in making “”ad hoc” decisions while on their feet; 4) have vicarious experience in coping skills, 5) practice attaching meaning to sound; 6) learn the elements of drama which are the elements of life; 7 ) learn narrative form and convention; 8) develop poise in pubic speaking; 9) have an increased sense of community; 10) learn a leadership skill as storytelling has been employed for many millennia to inspire and motivate and transmit cultural values.

It is noted here that seven of the above are taken fr0om an article by the aware wining Kentucky storyteller, Mary Hamilton, in “When Children Tell Stories, Storytelling provides.” Quoted with permission, www.maryhamilton.info. Ms. Hamilton expands on the seven skills and qualities she lists. ”