Telling Stories by tracyshaun, some rights reserved

My children are captivated by the stories I tell about my own childhood.  I can’t seem to keep up with the demand of story requests I receive daily.

So what does storytelling have to do with simplicity?  Interestingly, a lot.  We know that daily rhythm provides familiarity and security in the lives of our children and finding ways to decrease the overwhelm of stuff, activities, and stimulation by increasing the downtime and connection is all part of slowing down and simplifying our days. Finding ways to connect in meaningful ways with our children without screens or scheduled events isn’t always easy in our modern times. Storytelling is a lost art and provides more than just entertainment…

On Steve Barancik’s blog about children’s books Steve writes:

One of the most respected thinkers and writers today on the subject of parenting is doctor and brain researcher Daniel Siegel. One of Dr. Siegel’s big focuses is the subject of attachment disorders.

Of course, in studying attachment disorders, Siegel learns a lot about healthy parent-child attachment as well. Are you ready for his most astonishing discovery? Here it is…

The most powerful predictor of a strong bond between child and parent is the parent’s ability to speak coherently to the child about the parent’s own childhood.

That does provide food for thought! Many times when I hear the words, “Mom, tell us a story!” my mind goes blank. Haven’t I told them all that I can remember? Scenes from my childhood run through my head and I’m fascinated by what I am able to recall. The more I’ve come to understand the importance of storytelling, the more I am encouraged to strive to become better about telling the stories.

Steve writes:

Your child needs stories. Here are just a few of the many reasons why:

1. Stories help children understand their place in the world
2. A story can help your child cope with a difficult situation or experience
3. Learning to tell stories helps your child become socially proficient
4. Storytelling can be the perfect way to impart a life lesson
5. It has been shown that telling stories about your own childhood is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen the child-parent bond

This week’s small change: Commit to telling your children a story from your childhood.

Find a moment to share your story on a car ride, during a meal, in the morning, or at bedtime. 

This amazing article will help you with this week’s small change challenge!