A story can help children deal with difficult situations and give them something to hold onto. It can, at the same time, stimulate a deeper understanding as they become adults.
For more than a thousand years, by campfire and candlelight, people have told stories to their children, not only to entertain them, but also to help young people understand their world. Schools for young children were rare, but storytelling was not. Education came from stories.
In presenting these stories to children, you can help them understand what we share and what we can learn from each other. The stories can help children understand human nature. They encourage qualities such as self-reliance, the ability to overcome irrational fears caused by things children do not as yet understand, peaceful negotiation rather than violent confrontation, and much else.
In this ancient tradition, stories are told to young and old alike. These downloadable/printable manuals provide the stories’ background and tips on reading and sharing them with your children. They also suggest one or two activities associated with each tale that can help children improve their literacy skills while they make each story their own.