Benefits of Storytelling

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Benefits of Story Telling

“Stories and fantasies enable children and adults alike to put experimental flesh on the bones of their own aspirations, and see and feel what alternative future may be like” (Claxton, 2001, p. 137)
Storytelling is a powerfully unique way of learning within primary education. Storytelling can be defined in a variety of ways. Hamilton and Weiss state that “Storytelling is the oldest form of education. People around the world have always told tales…stories are at the core of all that makes use human” (Hamilton and Weiss, 2005, p.1). This definition is focussed on the history of storytelling and how the past has impacted the future on telling tales. Whereas, Hardy defines storytelling as a dream stating, “We dream in narrative, daydream in narrative, remember, anticipate, hope, despair, believe, doubt, plan, revise, criticize, construct, gossip, learn, hate, and love by narrative. In order really to live, we make up stories about ourselves and others, about the personal as well as the social past and future” (Hardy, 1978, p.13). His definition of storytelling is on the realistic side of delivering stories, you find in this generation many people tell stories from experiences or fantasies.
Children have a huge passion for stories especially within a primary school, many children in setting always look forward to story time on the carpet as it creates a magical world of imagination and experience. Vygotsky states “Play creates a zone of proximal development of the child. In the play a child all behaves beyond his average age, above his daily behaviour; in play, it is though he were a head taller than himself” (Vygotsky, 1978, p.102). This suggests that all children learn through storytelling is a unique way and allows them to develop skills and understand of the world. The use of storytelling encourages children to use their imagination and think outside the box, children can express their feelings and opinions as Egan states “Children’s imaginations are the most powerful and energetic learning tools” (Egan, 1990, p.2).

Teachers and Practitioners in setting deliver stories in a variety of different ways. Storytelling is not specifically reading from a book but can be told through singing, dancing, role play and acting. Storytelling is a key component to drawing attention on imagination and giving children the opportunity to decide what could happen next. Storytelling is used in primary education and setting as it benefits children in many ways.

Children learn many skills through storytelling and the big advantage is the use of vocabulary children pick up when listening to stories. When working in a primary school setting, I noticed that children would be intrigued when hearing a word, they haven’t heard before and would ask what the meaning is. This shows that the level of concentration during story time is effective. Storytelling also enhances listening skills, as children grow older, they often communicate a lot and rather talk than listen therefore telling stories allows children to become better listeners and gives them an understanding of why listening is important at times.

Here is a video of a 5-year-old telling a Shakespeare story by heart. This example shows that children are capable of carrying such an advanced level of storytelling from a young age.

https://vimeo.com/261524038



Reference
Assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. (2019). [online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/728273/National_funding_formula_policy_document_-_2019_to_2020_-_BRANDED.pdf [Accessed 18 February 2019].

Claxton, G. (2001) Wise Up. Learning to live the Learning Life. Network Educational Press Ltd.

Egan, K. (1990). Teaching as Storytelling. London: Routledge.

Fox, C. (1993). Tellings and Retellings: Educational implications of children's oral stories. Reading, 27(1), 14-20.

Hamilton, M., & Weiss, M. (1990). Children tell stories: A teaching guide. New York: RC Owen Publishers

Vygotsky, L. S. (1980). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard university press.

Vimeo. (2019). Y1 Storytelling A Midsummers Night Dream. [online] Available at: https://vimeo.com/261524038 [Accessed 18 February 2019].

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