STORYTELLING
For years, I worked as a professional storyteller. I told stories in all the usual places you find storytellers — museums, festivals, schools, libraries and special events. But my favorite memories are of telling stories to my seven nieces and nephews, whether it was huddled together on the beach at night, or in the living room.
As parents know, sharing stories is a wonderful way to be with your children — whether it's reading a book, telling a story from your life, or making one up.
I've found that my paintings are an amazing stimulus for creating stories. I've done this with my nieces and nephews, and also with a class of first graders.
I'd like to share one way of doing this with you, so you can enrich your experience with the children in your life.
This is simple - anyone can do it. Just relax and have fun. Don't worry about creating the perfect story.
- 1. Look at the painting with your child.
- 2. Ask them what they see when they look at the painting. Let them free associate.
- 3. Ask them to tell you more about one or two things they see. For example, if they say,
"I see a bird", ask them
What does the bird look like?
What does the bird feel like?
What is the bird doing?
Where is the bird going?
What challenge is the bird facing? - 4. Use their answers to the questions as a stimulus to start creating a story together. Just let your imaginations unfold from there.
- 5. You can also reverse roles, and let them ask you the questions.
