Telling Stories To Your Child
by Vicki Lansky
One way to stimulate your child's interest in books and reading is to show him or her how stories are created by making up and telling your own stories. Your story can be as long or short as you wish. You can spin a yarn especially tailored to your child in the time it takes to run the bath water, or you can make it last as long as it takes for a bath and a shampoo.
Your story can be about any toy on your child's shelf, your family pet, the reason the sun shines or any other topic in the world, and all the members of your family and all your children's friends can be characters. Here are a few guidelines:
- Keep it lively. Make something happen right away at the beginning and keep things moving.
- Give your main character a goal, whether it's saving the dog from a cruel thief or trying to make the sun shine.
- Don't be afraid to use some words children aren't familiar with.
- Above all, give your story a happy ending. The younger the child, the more important it is that order and fairness prevail and that the good guys come out ahead.
- One more thing - start your story with "Once upon a time". That will get your child in the mood and probably will get your own creative juices flowing.
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Last modified: Oct 24, 1995