I’ll admit to anyone I don’t think I had a great imagination growing up and while I love being creative making crafts, writing, and playing the violin, I still struggle telling stories verbally or through writing and, if speaking, usually stumble over my words or second-guess myself. But I remember the times growing up when I went to camp and at night sitting around the campfire we took turns telling stories. That’s what we did for fun; we didn’t know anything else. We didn’t need a TV, a computer, a Game Boy, an iPod, an iPad, etc. We entertained ourselves through imagination no matter how confident or not so confident we felt.
With all the technology today – eBooks, kids and adults playing video games, people on their computers 24/7, when is the last time you sat with your kid(s) and reminisced about things that happened years ago or made up stories from a camping experience or vacation or other trip you experienced? Or, better yet, have you ever sat around and told stories you fabricated on the spot? How enjoyable was it to see your child’s eyes light up at your descriptive details?
Start taking some time and bring the family together and give everyone an opportunity to use their imagination to tell a story. It’ll bring out their creativity and yours! Below are some prompts, if that helps, or use your own. The point of the exercise is to go back to the days of making up stories and who knows, maybe it’ll become a family tradition you share!
Creative Storytelling Prompts
- A ventriloquist wants to sing a song but every time he tries to sing the only thing that comes out is “No, No, No!”
- Every time the football player caught the ball he automatically turned around and ran to the other team’s goal to score.
- A ladybug makes a friend and wants to play but is allergic to fun.
- A dump truck rescued a baby kitten but couldn’t get any respect.
- A scientist invented something but couldn’t find what he was looking for to make it work.
- Put different items in a basket and pick five pieces out and everyone tells their own story with those objects.
- Have a “word” jar on your kitchen counter or other place in the house and either print words on paper and put into the jar or cut words out of a magazine and place in the jar. When it’s storytelling time, pick seven to ten words out of the jar and tell a story using all the words!
Setting aside time for storytelling is great bonding time for the family, but it also helps children with spelling, math, and organization and sparks their creativity. Do you remember storytelling time when you were growing up or, if not, what do you think about trying it out with your kids or grandchildren? Let us know if you give this a try, and if so, what you did to bring out the storytellers in your family or friends!
Until next time,
Colleen
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