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Ten Reasons to Tell
your Kids Stories
By Mark Brandenburg
In today's busy world, many parents have lost
the art of telling their stories to their kids. Here are some reasons why these
stories are so beneficial:
1. Use them to teach lessons about life.
Stories will stimulate conversations with
your kids more easily than lecturing can. There are a lot of issues happening
for kids these days, stories give them a chance to reflect on them.
2. Stories connect your kids with previous
generations.
In a society that seems to have families
spread out all over, it's vitally important to have ways to have your kids feel
connected to their extended families.
3. Stories stimulate your kids' imagination.
One of the best ways to prepare your kids for
the world is to engage them in vivid stories that stir their imagination. Kids
who are exposed to these kinds of stories will be the creative problem-solvers
of the future.
4. Kids who are exposed to stories will
continue the tradition with their own families.
Knowing that your family traditions and
stories will be carried on by future generations is very comforting.
5. Stories can encourage your kids when
they're discouraged
Childhood can get pretty discouraging
sometimes. Kids are encouraged by knowing that Mom or Dad have gone through the
same kinds of things and have survived.
6. Telling your stories has you remembering
your own childhood.
Telling your kids about your childhood is a
great way for you to remember and reflect on what was important about your
younger years.
7. Telling stories helps to create depth and
soul in your kids.
In a TV and media-crazy culture, telling
stories can capture your kids' attention and convey real meaning.
8. Telling stories to your kids tells them
they're worth the time.
Is there anything more important than
conveying to your kids that you want to spend intimate time with them?
9. Telling stories is a great chance to
convey your values.
Your kids will be getting quite a few
messages from their friends and from popular culture. Stories are a great
opportunity to sneak in a few of your cherished values for your kids to hear.
10. Well-crafted stories create a wonderful
mind-set for your kids before they fall asleep.
Kids will fall asleep faster and with
healthier images when you tell them your stories.
Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC, is the
author of "25 Secrets of Emotionally Intelligent Fatherss
http://www.markbrandenburg.com/father.htm
Sign up for his FREE bi-weekly newsletter, "Dads,Don't Fix Your Kids,"
at
http://www.markbrandenburg.com |