October 2024 — Much of the storytelling tradition has emerged through families, as parents and grandparents share their histories with their children. We’ve witnessed our young children, in turn, making up songs, languages, and stories as a way to process what they experience in the world.
Storytelling may seem easy and carefree for some, but others need a little nudge to ignite their creative storytelling and boundless imagination—something all kids possess.
Storytelling Tips
- Get ready. Have water or a favorite beverage at hand to remedy a dry mouth when speaking.
- Relax. Your tale is meant to enhance your time with others. There should be no competition or judgment. Success is measured in connection and laughter with your friends and family.
- Build it up. Really good stories have a moment of uncertainty where you were challenged.
- Be authentic. Illustrate the story with your voice, but being too dramatic may be scary. Just be you. Don’t be afraid to laugh, gasp, or ponder a thought. A moment of pause or silence can heighten anticipation by listeners.
- Accessorize. Gather any props nearby that might help illustrate your story – a flashlight, a hat, a glove, or a stick. Keep them handy so others can use them and get creative.
- Take turns sharing a story, real or made up, based on a prompt, in the spotlight of a campfire. Prompts can be written on cards and picked out of to stack to share an imaginative story. Start with these few examples:
– What happens when a shy moose picks up a magic stick?
– How does a polite bumble bee accidentally drain Nantahala Lake?
– Tell about your favorite memory of a person sitting next to you.
– Name and describe a place you never wanted to leave.
I hope these storytelling tips are useful this season. Happy trails to all and please consider volunteering to share some time with a student this year. Who knows, you may collect some storytelling memories to share around your next evening fireside.