Some of the best stories come from family and sharing things that will be done and/or have been done. Research indicates that language develops best when children are continually exposed to stories and storytelling. My son has always had both - whether it be the books we escaped into, the trips we took, or even listening to family tell one of those 'when I was your age' stories. My son loved sitting for hours listening to his grandfather tell stories about growing up, being in the Army, and working in media. He loved sitting for hours listening to his great-grandmother tell about leaving Poland and coming to the United States; listening to her friends recount their youth. My family comes from a long line of family storytellers - and it shows when my son retells his version of stories! How about you and your family? Can your children tell a story? Act out? Recount with their version? Pretend and make up a new one? What does your family talk about?
This is really cool, Cathy. As you know, our kids tell similar stories from their grandfather, their grandmother, and from their childhood. They also have been known to create their own extended stories as they play together. They even let me videotape them once as they acted out the words to a Weird Al Yankovic rip on a song I can't remember but it was about Anakin Skywalker. Unfortunately the computer it was stored on ...., but they remember and talk about it. They talk about their day, they recite movies, songs, and tv shows they've watched almost word for word. They've been known to say, "Remember when Jon..." :) They are very family focused, but they also talk about that which interests them.
ReplyDeleteI think this goes hand-in-hand with your post about listening; they do this because we listened to them, talked to them, read to them, and sang to them. Truthfully, I, personally, did all this because I got such a kick out of the relating to them (and sometimes the reading and/or singing was the only way to get them to sleep), and I realized when I started teaching reading what a difference it had made. I actually didn't do it because the books said to, but boy I am glad we did (as did Momo, Popo, Aunties, Uncles, Sisters, and Cousins).
Thanks for giving me something so positive and cool to write about!
That sounds wonderful! I'm sure you and I will share stories as this gets moving along. I love your perspectives - thanks for the comment!
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