Homeschool Tips Tricks Ideas

Dear StoryTelling friend,

Teachers, librarians, parents, caregivers all ask me, “How do I tell stories for children?” No matter your goal: stories for the classroom, bedtime stories, storytelling in libraries, a story for homeschool, stories for parents to tell their children, here are 6 tips for telling stories to children:

1. Be prepared for anything.

One of the best pieces of advice I can give you about storytelling for children is: expect the unexpected.

You have to be prepared with a variety of stories when working with children. Once, I was booked to tell stories to a group of children at a local library. I was told to expect kids of roughly ages 6-8. When the audience started to arrive at the library, they were not the older children I was expecting but rather just-beyond-toilet-trained toddlers, who had much of their focus spent on their “big boy pants” (the pull-up pants that are a version of very absorbent underpants) and the very exciting Velcro(tm) strips on their shoes. All of my prepared stories were geared for the listening and participative skills of a much older audience. So, I had to dig deep into my repertoire of stories and games to entertain this very young crowd. We had a good time but it was the long 25 minutes of improvising!

2. Pay close attention to your audience.

You will remember that in previous lessons I talked about storytelling being an audience-centered art form. The younger your audience, the more you as the storyteller must be carefully aware of how your audience is reacting. Children wear their emotions and feelings on their bodies. If a story is not keeping their attention, you will soon know it. Then quickly finish it up and move on to the next story on your list.

3. Focus on having a variety of stories and presentations for those stories.

For older audiences, you may often have a “set list” of stories you will tell. For your audience of children, it is better to have a “pile” of stories to tell with a variety of lengths and participation levels. Generally, for these young ears and eyes, a series of quick and fun stories is a good choice, with a few slow-down stories at the ready if they seem to have a need to listen more carefully.

4. Do not surprise your sponsors.

Every community has a different sense of what is and is not appropriate content in storytelling for children. Be sure that you and the sponsor are clear on what the sponsor expects for your presentation for children. For example, there is a huge difference from one group to another as to what does and does not make a good “scary” story for during the Halloween season.

5. Look children in the eye.

Don’t forget all the basics of storytelling that I have been teaching you. Especially, remember to look carefully at the children you are telling to at your performances. Those lingering looks into the eyes of children in the audience are powerful moments for them.

6. Be uninhibited in your telling.

I believe that children “see” stories differently than adults do. They can submerge themselves very deeply in the stories, often thinking that even the most fanciful story is real. Have fun! Act silly. Make faces. Sing. Wiggle. Be goofy and be larger than life. Your audience will stay with you and immerse themselves in your telling. By the way, expecting children to “sit quietly” as they politely listen to you tell profound stories is to invite your own disappointment.

Storytelling for children can be great fun and may be just a bit more challenging than you expect. No matter your ultimate goal in storytelling, try to include an audience of children on a regular basis.

********
Sean Buvala is the director of Storyteller.net and the author of the Ebook “DaddyTeller”™ Ebook that teaches Dads to tell bedtime stories (or anytime stories) to their children. You can find him on Twitter @daddyteller.http://www.daddyteller.com
This article first appeared on www.tellingstoriesforchildren.com.

Tweet This Post  Buzz This Post  Delicious This Post  Digg This Post 

Today we launch our latest Ebook! DaddyTeller™ has arrived.

Focusing on helping any Dad tell stories to his kids, this affordable Ebook is available today with an instant download by visiting http://www.daddyteller.com .

(Moms can use this Ebook, too. Just know that it’s written in guy-speak.)

Written by award-winning K. Sean Buvala, a 23 year veteran of the storytelling movement, we help Dad put down the storybooks and look into the eyes of his children while he tells them stories that pass on values, build communication, improve reading and math skills and create memories that will live far beyond the moment.

Filled with training and coaching, the book includes 8 stories with step-by-step instructions on what to say and how to say it. Going beyond fathering tips, this is a very specific guidebook.

The “DaddyTeller™: Be a Hero to Your Kids and Teach Them What’s Important by Telling Them One Simple Story at a Time” Ebook is available now at the initial launch price of just $14.95.

This Ebook is just the beginning of the DaddyTeller™ project. Be part of the first to join this unique learning and telling community.

Tweet This Post  Buzz This Post  Delicious This Post  Digg This Post 

Five Minute Tales: More Stories to Read and Tell When Time is Short. By Margaret Read MacDonald

Every storyteller, whether a parent, paid professional or someone who uses story as an addition to their primary job or activities, needs to have quick stories to tell in any situation. On the heels of her “Three Minute Tales” book, Margaret has gathered even more quick-to-tell stories from all over the world.


The stories are divided into nine loose categories such as “Origin Tales,” “Lessons to Be Learned,” and “Riddle Tales.” One of the most useful categories is “Tiny Tales” with stories that can be told in under a minute. Storytellers must always be ready to demonstrate their art form to others and these quick tales are great fillers to have in your repertoire.

Dr. MacDonald is one of the leaders in the classification and understanding of world tales, so one of her expanded comments regarding the type and origin of the story follows each tale. This provides excellent material for research for storytelling for teachers or storytelling in the education.

Margaret has written a number of “must have” books for the potential libraries of storytellers, public speakers and teachers of all types of groups. “Five Minute Tales,” too, will be a book you use often to fill in that “just right” space in your programs and presentations. -Storyteller.net Reviews

Tweet This Post  Buzz This Post  Delicious This Post  Digg This Post