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About Shannon Brescher Shea

Shannon Brescher Shea is a mom of an infant and three-year-old in the Washington D.C. suburbs who is striving to be kinder, more sustainable, and more adventurous every day. She explores parenting, growing up, and this big, beautiful world at her blog We'll Eat You Up, We Love You So as well as on Facebook.

How to Use the Power of Stories to Connect and Teach

by Shannon Brescher Shea.
(This article is part of the Positive Parenting FAQ series. Get free article updates here.)

power of stories - main imageGathered around a fire, a mother and child talk in quiet voices.

The flames leap as the mother tells the child stories of ancestors, far-away lands, and fantastic situations. Drowsy, the child falls asleep, her head on her mother’s lap.

This could be a scene from 10,000 years ago or 10 days ago.

Storytelling is a core part of what makes us human.

And yet, it’s not a tool parents use often – or are taught how to use – when talking to our kids.

Which is unfortunate, because storytelling is a powerful way we can communicate values, empathize with our children, show our support for them, and have fun.

Storytelling works whether your child is a tiny infant just learning to recognize the sound of your voice, or a hardened teenager who spends much of their time trying to block you out.

The Benefits of Storytelling

Storytelling is an essential part of our fabric and offers a whole range of benefits that other forms of communication lack.

Teach Values

As any parent who has tried lecturing knows, children often ignore the message. Stories are an amazing way to pass on values without hitting kids over the head with them.

[Read more…]

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Fair Warning: While none of this is professional advice, it is powerful stuff and could potentially change your life!
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