We have all been fond of hearing our grandmothers, grandfathers, parents, teachers or others telling us stories especially when we remember our childhoods. These stories would often take us to a world beyond the real, perhaps to a fairytale land where all sorts of imagination seemed possible, where animals spoke to each other in the deepest jungles and fairies befriended children. The beautiful world of stories has the immense potential to touch the hearts of children who are at a vulnerable time and have a mind that is capable of imagination beyond the limitations of understanding practicality. Any person who has sat down telling stories to children knows very well how their eyes sparkle as they listen to you, even ask you questions that compel you to instantly add animated elements to keep their interest going. From an early age children are fascinated by stories and if we are successful in building that interest for stories in them then there is a possibility that when they grow up, they will develop an interest in picking up a storybook, looking at the pictures and even telling stories out of their own imaginations.
Developing an Interest in Stories is Crucial in Cultivating a Reading Habit
We all know that developing a reading habit is very important and we can effectively work on this habit when we are children. It does not need repetition that people who have a good reading habit do not just excel in academic pursuits but also enjoy a wonderful hobby that allows them to build their language skills, develop a rich vocabulary, become better at communication skills etc. When we work on building a reading habit among children, we allow them to see and learn beyond the limitations of their given environment. They read about new kinds of people and lands, their cultures and environments etc. and thereby this helps to expand their world view and attain exposure. It is very important to acknowledge that the stories that we hear as children do play a very important role in shaping our consciousness, in developing a unique worldview and in expanding our limited notions of how the world is. Moreover, exposure to literature allows children to learn about how the rich literary styles such as poetry, prose, drama etc. are different from each other, the kind of emotions they stir, the plethora of expressions they involve, how characters are shaped, how tales unfold and how ultimately reading enriches our beings.
Exposure to Stories and the Development of Personality
Both reading as well as listening to stories has a very positive impact on our minds. They spark creativity and imagination; they help us go beyond the obvious and think out of box. This way, they allow our minds the chance of being flexible, appreciating diverse perspectives, empathizing with people in different circumstances, understanding that not everyone thinks and feels like us-all these things collectively help us to expand our vision and develop an open-minded personality.
Stories and Asking Questions
Children are inquisitive and love to ask questions, stories give them the right opportunity to develop the skill. When children ask questions, they learn to think critically, look beyond the given and develop their own mind. Critical thinking skills, questioning skills, research skills, imagination skills and expansion of the mind all develop when children listen to stories and formulate questions. “Why do you think this character acted in this way?” “What are the things about the character that you find in yourself?” these and similar questions when asked to children during reading or listening to stories are very important as they help build their distinctive thinking capacities and understand diversity of people’s minds, motives and their actions. Stories also offer the opportunity for children to learn new words and expand their vocabulary.
Finding Moments for Storytelling
As teachers and parents, we would love our children to become avid lovers of books but to ensure this, we have to devote sufficient time to tell them stories out of our own imagination or from a storybook appropriate for the age group. When the reading capacity has yet not become strong or when children are still early on, we can still develop the love for the literary world by telling/reading out stories to children. Simple, relatable, positive stories are the best especially if the books are picture books.
Show them the pictures, encourage them to speak what is that they are seeing in the illustration, give them prompts and motivate them to talk as much as they can. This sustained interaction is important and a sure way to help develop the love of books among children. This simple storytelling exercise is vital for developing a lifelong love for books!
