We’ve all heard about the power of storytelling. But the question is why is it so powerful?
Storytelling has been around as long as humans have. Literally. Cavemen were doodling stories using a stick for a pen and mud for paper, all across the walls of their caves. Now that we’ve entered the digital era, most things from our childhoods have completely changed. Telling stories is one of those few rare things that has stood the test of time. The art of storytelling will always be carried from one generation to the other. And for good reason as the benefits are huge.
Storytelling helps kids learn
When you’re telling your kids a story, you’re opening a door to a world of fantasy. No rules. When your kid steps into this world, it allows for free flowing curiosity and ideas, generating creativity. It will also help learn new words and phrases. They might not understand every word, but that’s why you’re there, you can explain it while you read to them. It is also proven to speed up the learning process for your kids.
Storytelling enhances listening abilities
Most often kids do not give attention to a particular thing for a long period of time. They also do not concentrate on anything for long too. You might have noticed your kids talking more than lending their ears to what you have to say. Storytelling to a great extent helps resolve this problem. The more interesting the story is, the more attentive your kid would be. You will notice substantial improvements in the listening skills of your kids through storytelling.
Storytelling improves memory skills
This one I can personally vouch for. I see it in my own two year old. She struggles to remember where her shoes are, but if you ask her about a character in a storybook, she will tell you their name, colour, what they love to eat and basically their entire life story. If you can ask your kid to explain the story that you read to them a few days ago, it will help your children re-jog their memory and tell you what they connected with. Ultimately, storytelling improves your kid’s ability to memorise as well as improving their concentration and focus as they listen to the story.
