Chapter 20 Guiding storytelling experiences

Storytelling Sharing in a make-believe world of adventure Reciting a story or reading from a book Children develop a love for both stories and books Enhances language development

The importance of storytelling Understand the world in which they live Understand other people Develop a positive attitude toward books Develop listening skills Build correct concepts of objects and form new ideas Increase their vocabulary Associate written and spoken words

The importance of storytelling Understand that print carries meaning Develop an appreciation for printed words Learn the difference between everyday conversation and written language Understand that letters can be capital or small Develop a desire to read Learn that people read from left to right

The importance of storytelling Children learn the words that describe feelings and experiences they have. They learn to think about familiar situations in new ways. Stories invite children to explore and wonder about their world.

The importance of storytelling Provide models of acceptable behavior and positive relationships. They learn how people express their feelings and become more understanding of others’ needs. Good for relaxation and a quiet activity

Books as a source of stories Picture Books Single words or simple sentences First books shared with young children May be wordless allowing the adult to tell the story Brown bear brown bear what do you see

storybooks Family life stories Animal stories Fairy tales Most are built around themes of achievement, love, and reassurance

The Tale of peter rabbit Peter has an adventure but safely returns home (achievement) His mother tucks him into bed and gives him tea (Love and reassurance)

Family Life stories Theme of social understanding Children usually have problems in these stories Funny or serious problems are resolved with love and concern I Ain’t gonna paint no more!

Animal stories Animals have some human qualities ANIMALS HAVE SOME UNUSUAL SUCCESS OR ABILITY

FAIRY TALES A THEME OF ACHIEVEMENT CHARACTERS OR HEROS PERFORM DIFFICULT TASKS IN ORDER TO SUCCEED CONFRONT GIANTS, WITCHES OR OTHER OBSTACLES KINDNESS AND GOODNESS WIN OUT OVER EVIL

SeLECTING CHILDREN’S BOOKS Fictional content Should reflect the children’s developmental level, backgrounds, and experiences Select realistic stories for children under five – often cannot separate fact from fiction

SeLECTING CHILDREN’S BOOKS Illustrations Pictures should almost tell the story by themselves Brightly colored pictures with large, clearly defined objects Reflect actions Avoid unneeded detail

SeLECTING CHILDREN’S BOOKS Vocabulary A good book creates a sense of wonder Uses words that can be understood by children of certain age Repetition of some words will increase children’s enjoyment Chicka chicka boom boom

SeLECTING CHILDREN’S BOOKS Durability Children should be allowed to hold and carry books Turn the pages Dull pages to prevent glare Binding should lay flat when the book is open

SeLECTING CHILDREN’S BOOKS Length Infants and toddlers – few minutes 2-year-olds – 5 to 8 minutes 3-year-olds – 6 to 10 minutes 4-year-olds – 8 to 12 minutes 5-year-olds – 10 to 15 minutes Selecting Books Based on Age – (transparency master 20-2)

Avoid stories that reinforce stereotypes Choose age-appropriate stories Free from stereotypes – preset ideas about people based on one characteristic, such as sex, culture, nationality, religion or age Pictures should be observed closely since they have more impact than words

Avoid stories that reinforce stereotypes Free of sexism – any action, attitude, or outlook used to judge a person based only on the sex of that person Ratio of men/boys to women/girls Stereotyping of older people – realistic and positive image of older adults