~Neha Bhalla

Stories need children, children need stories. Children instinctively love stories as they are introduced to wonderful ideas, places, and creatures they haven’t before encountered. Stories have the potential to be incredibly powerful, they are able to change how we relate to each other, to change prejudice. So, the potential for stories to persuade is staggering.

10 Benefits of Storytelling to Kids:

1. Hones Creative skills: story can be an aid for critical thinking scaffolding. Provide children with an example of starting direction while the recreation and the culmination of the stories are organized by children as an active story organizer, let them come up with creative suggestions.
2. Stimulates imagination, curiosity and enhances perceptual development: Storytelling encourages children to use their imagination to picture the situation, the characters, and the story as it unfolds. Rather than being given the imagery to accompany the words, ask them to talk about the plot and characters in the story, let them imagine how each of the characters might move the story forward.
3. Improves communication skills: Children learn the art of asking right questions, engage in conversations and sequencing which are the building blocks of developing communication skills.
4. Enhances academic learning: Stories draw us in. Young learners who may be less motivated in the topic (or the material could potentially be very dry and boring), a themed story can be used to engage and retain their attention.
5. Children are able to express themselves: Reading stories to a child can increase their willingness to express themselves and communicate their thoughts and feelings. They can put themselves in those shoe and can connect with their background and their feelings. When storytelling, you should actively encourage children to ask questions and talk about their emotions.
6. Creates Empathy: When stories transport us, they can generate empathy by identifying others’ emotions and relating them to their own self. They can be taught to deal with obstacles, hardships by giving similar examples as they will identify themselves with protagonist’s with a similar situation.
7. Enhances Problem Solving skills: Children learn these skills as they follow tales of adventure and brave deeds. Their curiosity is piqued as to what comes next or how something can be disentangled. This encourages them to ponder upon solutions on their own and come up with answers.
8. Enhances cultural understanding: When we share stories of how other people live, their cultural believes and values we give them opportunity to tap into the world of other people. It can help develop an appreciation of the rest of the world and different cultures.
9. Boost memory and concentration: Children will listen to a good story actively, pause in between and ask them questions. Let them ponder and recall what they remember to improve their memory and concentration.

10)Enhances Focus and social skills: Children are encouraged to pay heed to others, be it the storyteller or others listening to the story. They learn to be more persevering and to let others speak. Their focus and listening skills are developed as they concentrate on what the storyteller is saying, if they do not listen, the will miss out on part of the plot.