When learning how to tell a story to kids, it must deliver more than your basic beginning, middle, and end. A good story will provide an emotional connection where the child audience is transported to another world, whether similar to their environment or fantastic. Characters can be human, animal, cartoons, or others.
Stories should be fun but should not be lengthy or lack specific direction. However, there are common rules to apply when learning how to tell a story well. Imagination, practice, and enthusiasm are ingredients in learning how to tell your story. The following tools are the basic elements that make a fun transport possible for an audience of children:
Table of Contents
Mood
When listing tips for how to tell good stories, the environment is of prime importance. Stories told in a special setting such as by fire when camping or by candlelight indoors will have a special ambiance that affects the audience’s perception as the story unfolds. The physical setting may add a sense of “something special is about to happen.”
Set the Stage
In preparation for telling a story, it is helpful to prime the audience for the appropriate mood, such as comedy or fear. If the story is comedic, some laughs beforehand would be suggested. If the story is scary, then it would be beneficial to steer the young audience towards light fear. This creates anticipation.
Comfort
When deciding how to tell a story, the audience must be physically comfortable. For example, if it is cold outside, the audience should have blankets and a fire. Also, it is generally accepted that a good story told outside under the stars should be done in a circle with the speaker at the head. This bonds the group and focuses all eyes on the storyteller.
Move
A good storyteller emphasizes his voice and exaggerates his movements. Different characters should have different voices and cadence. Who should tell the story without hesitation; it should flow naturally with rehearsed ease. A pause should indicate drama, not forgetfulness. Props help add sound effects. The story seems to be “happening now” rather than information being relayed by engaging the senses.
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A good storyteller is lively and purposeful in his delivery. The person that delivers a story from beginning to end well has delivered an experience, an event.
Be The Story
Remaining in character is important. Despite the vocal enthusiasm from an audience, a good storyteller never wavers or forgets to lead this parade. Likewise, a good speaker interacts without losing focus.
Entertain
A good story should be enjoyable and thoroughly engaging. When the audience is riveted and involved from beginning to end, the storyteller has done his job.
Learning how to tell a good story will make the difference between talking about a tale and living it. Storytelling is performing. The following are tips that are very helpful in sticking to a formula of bringing stories to children:
7 TIPS
As described, good storytelling is a performance. It involves skills and a formula to deliver the best results. To thrive while learning how to tell stories for children, Who should master these tips:
- Know the story
- Make sure the story is kid-friendly and relatable.
- Give and take, make sure the audience can contribute during the story.
- Shake it up – add character quirks or sound effects
- Become the actors in the story – impersonate with voice and mannerisms
- Good speed – speak slow enough to be heard, understood, and keep the good rhythm while moving steadily ahead.
- Damage control: improvise when necessary, such as quicken the pace or alter details to hold interest if it wanes; young children need short stories due to a shorter attention span. Older children may want more details to make the story more believable.
A good storyteller should be fully prepared and wing it should take the situation calls for improvisation. A good storyteller can hone his skills to become great.
Becoming Great
Rarely is a storyteller wonderful right out of the gate? It is challenging to learn how to tell a great story. To master the gift of transporting an audience takes practice and talent.
For children, entertainment often lies in the possibilities of suspended reality. In a pretend world, the rules that apply here on Earth may be different for these characters. They may have super powers or be in an upside-down world. To deepen the experience, a child should relate to a character/the story because he recognizes something of himself.
Once emotionally attached, a great storyteller will move swiftly from beginning to middle to end with dramatic voice and movements.
Lessons
Most stories have lessons that Who may learn through its different characters and struggles. For example, a character may overcome a misfortune to become a better version of himself or help another with tools he has acquired or developed during the story. There are a multitude of messages and lessons that Who can provide to children through storytelling. The sky is the limit with entertaining children; their imaginations are primed for a short transport to another world.
Children
The world of a child is very different than that of an adult. The way he perceives his world is magical and often very optimistic as opposed to grown-ups. The storyteller has a unique opportunity to revel in the imagination and spirit of young people. Children absorb stories like butter on warm bread.
When told well, stories can impact a child permanently and become part of his repertoire when he is with friends or finds himself in the same position later in life. In addition, a good story may impart the wisdom that a child takes with him and applies to his life long after the story session.
Adults who learn how to tell a story can make a lasting impression on a group of youths. They can take a boring evening and make it exciting and memorable with their performance. Children who wish to emulate this skill may find their calling in public speaking or writing. A good storyteller has the power to influence children while activating their imagination and satisfying their urge to have fun.
STORYTELLERS
Storytelling is for those who love to perform and have a good memory. The best storytellers have a magic bag of tales they can dip into for various occasions. The job of entertaining children should be fun and easy. For those who work and live with children, telling stories may be commonplace.
Many parents, teachers, and youth leaders know how to tell a story to kids. However, for everyone who is not a practiced storyteller, these tips and tools should prove beneficial to creating more excitement during sleepovers, campouts, and youth events.
With enthusiasm and energy, a good speaker understands the brilliance and innocence of a child’s mind and uses his power for good in the ways of persuasion.
Persuasive Stories
Some groups, such as a church, school, and scouts, use stories to build camaraderie and impress beliefs in a unique style. Compelling stories can urge children to behave well and treat people respectfully. Compelling stories can mold character through moral lessons such as Aesop’s Fables or build on specific teachings to promote strengths while honoring the hopeful nature of a child.