diary writing on role of story telling in learning

There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories. —Ursula K. LeGuin

Diary Writing on:

Role of Story telling in bringing up a child

Susmita Pruthi

1 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing

10:29 pm

The universe is made of stories, not atoms.

—Muriel Rukeyser

Susmita Pruthi

Story telling has been one of my favourite pass time with my daughters! It had been a very sacred time for us, a judicious 10-15 minutes every night before sleep.

I remember, I started with little non sensensical tit-bits when they were just 4-5 months old. They would listen to me with rapt attention and respond with their gurgling sounds, sometimes, giggling, smiling and sometimes kicking or flaying their hands. I would obviously consider this as a kind of response to what I was telling and weave the next sentence accordingly!

I was considered a NUT to be talking to new borns!But it helped me carry this tradition on as they continued to grow into their months and years. Of course, there were obvious changes in the form and nature of the story and the level of interaction as suitable for the age.


Susmita Pruthi

We moved to other stories including shifting to reading stories from Champak, Nandan and so on.

the Thirsty Crow, the Rabbit and the Tortoise, the Monkey and the Crocodile - Panchatantras have been an integral part of their growing.

Stories like the Rabbit and the Lion,


Susmita Pruthi

BY THE WAY, even according to our Indian mythology, the process of educating and moulding process of human being’s character starts right from the womb. An expecting mother better be ready for innumerable advices and dos and don’ts, not only regarding her diet, but also about her other activities, e.g. read religious and other good books and not to read vicious books or to watch violent or sadistic movies.Refer the episode from Mahabharatha, incidentally my knowledge from reading Amar Chitra Katha. Abhimanyu learnt to break the chakra vyu when he was still in his mother’s womb while Arjuna was explaining it to his pregnant wife. But as Lord Krishna called Arjuna, he could not complete the explanation how to come out of it and so Abhimanyu could not learn the secret of getting out of it.I think there are some modern research done that shows that emotions and feelings can be formed in the brain even before we are born.


I will continue that experience tomorrow. I will try and see if I can get other people's response on this concept, their perspectives - kids, moms/dads, grand moms/dads, uncles/aunties ...

9:45 pm

Because there is a natural storytelling urge and ability in all human

beings, even just a little nurturing of this impulse can bring about

astonishing and delightful results.

—Nancy Mellon, The Art of Storytelling

Susmita Pruthi

Continuing from yesterday, I want to focus on "Mother-Child Storytelling Ritual“ today.A mother who tell stories to their children during bed time encourage them to respond and evaluate the story according to their understanding. Conversations and questions but it also develops the curiosity in the child.

The curiosity in the child helps the child’s mind to ask more questions and learn more. Conversations and questions but it also develops the curiosity in the child. The curiosity in the child helps the child’s mind to ask more questions and learn more.It also helps build a bond between the mother and the children - the child gets more comfortable with sharing everything with the mother because they will develop skills to have a conversation with their mother.


Susmita Pruthi

Helps transmit socio-cultural values

Helps in the development of the personality of the child, help the child to be better at communicational skills

Communicate morals and values - the story becomes a part of the child’s thought and the value being taught is also a part of his thought, the child will then try to put it to practice.

Additionally, the story telling experience also:


11:05 pmStories are how we learn. The progenitors of the world’s religions

understood this, handing down our great myths and legends from

generation to generation.

—Bill Mooney and David Holt, The Storyteller’s Guide

Susmita Pruthi

Benefits of Story tellingWhile discussing this today with some of my colleagues, I found another interesting aspect of story-telling – exercise of the child doing story telling. Schools nowadays give this assignment for kids in primary school to come up in the class and do story telling. I find this interesting as it allows the child to display all his learning - the story itself, it's learning, communication, confidence, public speaking and so on.I believe that story telling in a very unique and interesting way brings out personality traits and polishes them for life.


Susmita Pruthi

For example:Telling a story that deals with a fear your child is wrestling with helps in defusing fears. For example,>> if your child is afraid of thunderstorms, tell a story about a child or animal who finds a safe, cozy place to curl up during a storm.

Most of the times children believe they can overcome fear when they see someone else conquer a fear before they do. Make use of puppets, stuffed animals and prewritten stories, when possible.

Using the characters in a story, it is easy to communicate your reasons behind limits and boundaries as you show your child why you make certain decisions. As the story is about fictional characters, the child generally is be able understand it (and the reasoning behind it) without becoming defensive.


Susmita Pruthi

Storytelling is a great way to open up any child's imagination. Interacting with the story teller as they tell stories, making up characters and monsters or obstacles for the characters. After a while, the child may surprise you by inventing one instead !!

We all know that most of the fairy tales and nursery rhymes have morals woven into them. Using these traditional fairytales coupled with modern children's books and one's own imagination, one is able to convey the right morals and value system to the children. Tell a story>> that praises kindness, generosity and inclusiveness.>> The Little Red Hen who helped everybody - it will help set a good example.

As expressed earlier, storytelling is bonding up with children. They will always remember the hours you spent talking in silly voices, making up ridiculous characters and laughing about the stories you told - parent-child bonding.


9:50 pm

If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where

they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to

stay alive.

—Barry Lopez, in Crow and Weasel

Susmita Pruthi

So what kind of learning happened? Language skills (vocabulary, grammar, syntax and pronunciation). Their attention span and their ability to listen. Their ability to follow instructions. Their ability to co-operate with others An understanding of concepts An understanding of human nature. An understanding of feelings. An awareness of the role characteristics people assume. An understanding of sequence.

It has been very instinctive for me – as an elder sister in a big crowd of siblings, a leader during school days, an ‘educated’ professional amongst not-so educated ones, a mother. But I have always seen story telling sessions, experience sharing sessions, make some difference to the person, in the person – same time or some time later.


Susmita Pruthi

Story telling can really act as a therapy also! Children will absorb lessons learned by characters in a story without being defensive about their own issues.Children who have gone through traumatic experiences can process those experiences and learn to trust and feel safe again through repeated stories with positive outcomes.Children watch the story's characters overcome similar obstacles, which boosts confidence that victory is possible and positive outcomes are realistic.

Being subtle yet positive towards a concern – personal or otherwise has always helped. Being creative, varying the story – characters, background etc – helps in many ways. Sometime, for younger children, one has to be re-iterative yet be new to send a message home.

Prompting children when repeating a story, helps the child pull from the earlier memory. Allowing them to tell the story, fill in the story or / and complete the story allows them to communicate as well as inform you of their perspectives. You never know what is revealed!15 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing

Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful,

clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human

contact.

— Robert McKee

Susmita Pruthi

I believe story telling is an art!I have seen the disinterest of many children when the word ‘story’ is mentioned. In a world crammed with television programmes, cartoons and interesting audio and visual aids traditional story telling is facing a big challenge. These mediums are bringing the stories alive for them irrespective. And with the additional advantage of three-dimensional stories available as and when they want versus the old-fashioned way, on a warm weekend afternoon or drowsy week nights – what wins?


Susmita Pruthi

>> Stretching your stories , exaggerating, brings an element of fun, disbelief, awe and sometimes an interaction!

I have some tricks to share, of basis my experience!

>> Remember the three Little Pigs' "I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down!" or the "Old Mac Donalds had a Farm"?! Many a times it is the repetition that allows your audience to get involved as they come to expect a repeated phrase or theme.

>> Using voice modulations brings the story to life! And, kids love a story told in different voices. Sometimes, depending on the age group, ridiculously exaggerated voices for each character in the story; the more distinct and unique the voices, the better.


10:22 pmStories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more

powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the

currency of human contact.

— Robert McKee

Susmita Pruthi

Having discussed the same with many parents, grandparents, kids, I realized that many really didn’t know the power of story telling in any child's personality and future life.

I spoke to some of my colleagues and here is an opinion. I wish had more time to capture more views ….

They are embedded on the page as videos for reference …


Susmita Pruthi

Today's children (or rather any child of any era) never likes to be told what to do and how to do. So, instead of preaching morals and values, storytelling helps parents weave them into their stories and narrate it to their children in an interesting manner - giving answers to "Why should I do this" and "What is in it for me". Listening to stories from the time they were very small, they remember the plots and morals subconsciously, delving into what they’ve heard as they grow up. And, if possible, use them correctly.


Story telling sessions are like a set of magical wings of imagination that helps them become more creative and think out of the box. With oodles of enthusiasm, voice modulation and a dollop of acting, it involves the whole family and helps them bond better.

Susmita Pruthi

I remember many such instances shared by my elder daughter who is a very impressionable young lady. Many a times, while having casual conversations, it has come out that she has taken the 'right' decision under the circumstances, just because she could relate to some story, value or other such instance based discussions we have had.

I also believe that story telling method of relating to family history bonds them to their roots and gives them an identity.


10:45 pm

Australian Aborigines say that the big stories—the stories worth telling

and retelling, the ones in which you may find the meaning of your life—

are forever stalking the right teller, sniffing and tracking like predators

hunting their prey in the bush.

—Robert Moss, Dreamgates

Susmita Pruthi

One lesson we can learn from pre-industrial peoples is the power of storytelling. I am struck by how important storytelling is among tribal peoples; it formed the basis of their educational systems. Knowledge that is not passed through the heart is dangerous: it may lack wisdom; it may be a power trip; it may squelch life out of the learners.

What if our educational systems were to insist that teachers be poets and storytellers and artists? What transformations would follow?


Susmita Pruthi

Storytelling is a fantastic educational tool, helping children learn about different countries, cultures, nature and just about anything, through stories woven around a nugget of knowledge. For instance, you might like to tell stories about Eskimos, or how tigers hunt in forests, or why trees are important.If you tell your children stories regularly and ask them to participate with their own tales, it helps develop better conversational and communication skills. It lets them experiment with language and vocabulary, and helps them put their imagination to good use.And the best of all, storytelling is fun and your kids will always want more.

Story is far older than the art of science and

psychology, and will always be the elder in the

equation no matter how much time passes.

—Clarissa

Pinkola Estes25 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing

Susmita Pruthi

We derive our competence from forming

connections … the learner’s challenge is

to recognize the patterns which appear

to be hidden. Meaning-making and

forming connections between

specialized communities are important

activities.


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