How do stories help children understand themselves and relate to others?
When children listen to stories, they often identify with the characters’ experiences and feelings. This helps them understand their own fears, emotions, and feelings. Some stories introduce ethics and values and expand children’s understanding of the world. Many times, stories let children appreciate their own cultures and those of others. What do children learn when they create their own stories? When children become storytellers, they grow in many ways: • They learn to put events in a sequence that makes sense. • They build problem-solving skills by planning how to tell the story in an engaging way. • Their self-confidence grows as they take an active role in creating a story. • They build strong vocabularies, learn to express their ideas clearly, and develop public speaking skills. • They feel important, because they have a story to tell. How can story-telling be adapted for the 4-7 year old reader? Find books with a simple story arch—simple compelling pictures and perhaps a very-
