Storytelling to tots

Every afternoon, when Emma Darcy goes down for a nap, Purring Piggy reads her picture books. When Purring Piggy is not around, the position of storyteller falls to me. I like reading aloud, but reading little children’s books can get a little wearisome, so, being a writer, I often prefer telling my own stories ad lib. It is a very different thing to tell a story to a two-year-old, though, than write a book for grownups, and I have learned some interesting lessons.

1. Let the child pick the topic for the story. While this may mean telling fifteen Bingley stories in a week, and wondering how on earth you can tell a story about a purple dress, it makes the child feel involved and interested in the story automatically.

2. Another way to make the child feel involved is to make them the hero of the story. This is the easiest story to tell, as well, for your supporting characters are ready-made in the form of siblings, toys, and pets.

3. When all else fails, go for the ludicrous. Toddlers don’t go well for character development; it confuses them. They like humor, and the pure ridiculous is the easiest. While you may think that a story that has Bingley being captured by pirates led by Captain Jack Sparrow, on his way to America on Horatio Hornblower’s ship to visit his friend John Adams, sounds utterly cheesy, I have evidence that at least one two-year-old loves that sort of story. When Emma Darcy was in her stage where she only wanted Bingley stories, a fair bunch of goofy ridiculousness was given her, which I am too embarrassed to name on a public blog, but which she found delightful.

4. Make facial expressions and act out your story. One of my best successes in storytelling came from a story I was telling about ED’s favorite dress. The description of the feelings of the dress while being tumbled in the dryer, combined with a little acting, produced giggles galore.

5. Never feel inadequate. However awful you may think your stories are, however embarrassing you would find it if someone was watching, if your listeners beg for more, nothing else really matters. There is nothing quite so enjoyable as seeing a child’s face light up at a story that you made up.