Educating a Child with the Help of Stories

It is not easy to teach young children. However, it is an extremely important responsibility and must not be delegated to an amateur. Making use of stories for teaching is an effective method. When a teacher reads to children, he or she does not confine the student to academic excellence but expands into their behavioral and emotional learning.

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Here are a few reasons which explain why making use of stories for teaching is a good idea.

The Child Will Not Feel Threatened or Bored

When the teacher reads, he or she is able to tackle a particular situation in a very non-threatening manner. What does threaten mean? Here are a few examples of some phrases that are utilized when teaching a lesson:

"You must never lie."

"You should not be scared."

Normally, this is said in an angry or accusatory tone. When there is finger-pointing, children hear the disapproval and the whole situation gets tense. However, if one uses stories for teaching, the blame is taken out and lesser emphasis is placed on problems. Solutions are discussed in a positive way.

Working Towards "Cure" and "Prevention"

By making use of stories for teaching, children can be helped through situations that they might be experiencing at that time. It also helps teachers prepare the children mentally for situations that could possibly arise. Children tend to gain a lot of indirect experience from the stories that are read to them. For instance, teachers can read a book on bullying to teach children how to handle such situations.

Children Look up to the Characters in the Stories That Are Read to Them

Children tend to connect with the story characters and like to relate with them. The teacher can further ask questions like:

1. Can you relate to anyone in this story? 

2. Do you think this character is like you?

3. Why do you like that character?

4. Is there any character you aspire to be?

Relate such lessons to the child’s experiences and life. For instance, in the story of  ‘The Three Little 

Pigs’, you can ask the child what he/she can do to make their house really strong.

Children Are More Likely to Remember a Story Than a Reprimand

Scientists believe that the assimilation of information inside a story is an extremely natural brain process. To summarize, neuroscience has found out that our brain is made in such a way that it organizes, retains and accesses information with the help of stories. This means that teaching with the help of a story will help little ones remember information more easily and they will also be able to apply it effectively. Perhaps this is the reason why children can recite dialogs used in their favorite shows with ease.

Permits Critical Thinking

One of the safest ways for students to explore behavior and emotions are through stories. There are numerous children books that teach children about the significance of holding parents’ hands when out. Thought-provoking questions related to the story will help in identifying feelings and problems.

One of the best ways by which early childhood educators can teach is through storybooks. They offer a lot of insight and help a child grow.