Stories are an age-old way to pass down information and teach lessons. Parents can use storytelling to:
- Reinforce values in a way children remember
- Teach a lesson in a non-threatening way
- Help children solve problems and look at challenges from someone else’s eyes
- Let children “try on” new ways of coping without fear of failure.
Do wait to tell the story when both you and your child are calm.
Do let your child join in. Ask questions such as: “What do you think he did next?” or “What was he thinking?” or “What do you think his mom should have done?”
Don't think you have to be an expert storyteller. Simply spending time with your child and helping him sort through life’s troubles will mean more than the content of your story.