Wait till you hear this! I was playing with my two-year-old grandson on the floor with his little cars and trucks. He pretty much was entertaining himself at one point, and I started thinking about a storytelling performance that was soon coming up with YMCA day campers. I was excited and a little nervous about telling this wonderful story⎯it was a brand new story for me, and this would be the first time telling it. Suddenly, I decided to tell the story out loud in front of my little guy. Why Not? He was having fun, and I’d get to practice.
I started telling the story. My grandson stopped playing instantly, walked over to me and stared at me! Listening to every word! (Yeah! He’s two.) The youngest I ever told stories to were three and four year olds.
The story consisted of a little chant with clapping, and he joined in on the claps. One part of the story has the main character spinning with his arms up in the air. My grandson started spinning. He listened to the entire story with a big smile on his face. I don’t know exactly what he was thinking, but he was thinking and the wheels were turning. He was developing his literacy skills and having fun.
So, whether you’re a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, a baby sitter, a friend…spread a little magic and tell someone a story!
http://www.ednawaidellcravitz.com/stories-are-magic/