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Storytelling from the Heart

Sarah Baldwin, Waldorf educator and owner of Bella Luna Toys, explains the importance of storytelling for children and gives parents ideas on how to make up their own stories, and tell stories “by heart” in this “Sunday with Sarah” video.

TRANSCRIPTION:

Hi, I’m Sarah Baldwin. I’m a Waldorf teacher, an author, the mother of two Waldorf graduates. I’m the owner of Bella Luna Toys, and I’m also a storyteller.

And guess what. So are you!

Today on “Sunday With Sarah” I’m going to talk to you about storytelling and why I think it’s so important to TELL children stories–from memory or from the heart, or stories that you make up–as opposed to just reading them from a book.

Now books are great. We sell a lot of picture books and chapter books at Bella Luna Toys. I don’t want to discourage you from ever reading to your child or encouraging your child to read, but when we can take the time to TELL a child a story–eye-to-eye and heart-to-heart–there is no greater gift. Children love it!

Now you may think “I’m not creative, I don’t have any ideas. How do I possibly make up a story?” Well, it’s not that hard, and the more you start exercising that storytelling muscle, the easier it becomes.

The easiest way to get started, I think, is to just start telling your child stories of when you were a little girl or you were a little boy. Children LOVE to hear stories about their parents when they were little, and remembering the adventures they had or the trouble they got into!

You can also tell a story reviewing the child’s day. Now, reviewing the day before sleep, in bed, is a wonderful, relaxing way for children to let go of the day and drift off to sleep.

And you can disguise the child. You can change his or her name, or it could be a story about “Squirrel Nutkin” or another little animal, but then use the events that child’s day to help them review the day and soon they’ll begin to recognize themselves in the story. “Oh, that’s what I did today!” and they’ll get really excited to hear a story about themselves.

For instance: “Squirrel Nutkin woke up early one morning and his mother had made him a bowl of oatmeal. And after they ate their oatmeal, they washed the dishes together and took a walk to the park…” and so on, reviewing what the child had to eat that day, who they saw, what activities they did.

So, if you need more ideas, one of my favorite books, and we offer it at Bella Luna Toys, is called Storytelling with Children, written by Nancy Mellon. Nancy is a master storyteller who has taught teachers and given workshops, and it’s full of great ideas.

And stories don’t have to just be told. They can also be told as a puppet play with little figures. Nancy gives lots of ideas in this wonderful book.

So I really encourage you to start, if you don’t already, making up stories. You can also memorize a story, like a fairy tale, and try telling it by heart. I like saying “telling it by heart” rather that “memorizing.” It just is warmer.

A fairy tale you know well, like “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” or “Little Red Riding Hood.” You know what happens in the story! Tell it in your own words and when your child makes that eye contact with you and has that heart-to-heart connection, they will just warm right up, and you’ll enjoy it, too.

So, leave a comment! Let me know if storytelling something you do regularly. If not, and you decide to give it a try, let me know how it goes. Let me know if you have any questions. Happy storytelling! See you next time.

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Book referenced in video: Storytelling with Children by Nancy Mellon

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Archives, bella luna toys, Childhood, Education, Homeschooling, Parenting, Play, Reading, Rhythm, Sarah's Silks, Storytelling, Sunday With Sarah, Waldorf Education, Waldorf Homeschooling, Waldorf Toys

Sunday With Sarah LIVE

Sarah Baldwin, M.S.Ed., Waldorf teacher, author, and owner of Bella Luna Toys, answers viewers’ questions on:

  • Boys and Gun Play
  • Waldorf Education
  • Learning to Read
  • Resources for Puppet Plays
  • Parenting

and more in this one-hour Facebook Live event (recorded July 31, 2016).

Note: The Sarah’s Silks giveaway mentioned in the video has ended.

0:00    Welcome and Introduction

0:45     Be sure to Like Bella Luna Toys on Facebook. Then hover on the “Liked” button and choose “See First” to be sure not to miss my posts.

3:24     Boys and Gun Play

14:56   Is a Waldorf school appropriate for a child on the autism spectrum?

18:32   What is the difference between Waldorf education and Montessori education?

25:48   How do I respond to a four-year-old who is showing an interest in letters and reading?

31:19    How can I incorporate Waldorf elements, like “rhythm,” into my Montessori classroom?

35:05   How should I go about introducing Waldorf homeschooling to my 6-year-old and 4-year-old?

38:31   What ages does Waldorf education cover? What about homeschooling through middle school and high school?

43:34   What toys would you recommend for a 6-month old girl?

48:47   What components would you feel are essential in a 3-year-old’s home and school environment?

51:58    What resources would you recommend for puppet plays for 3- to 6-year-olds?

57:14    Thank you so much for joining me for this first live event! I’d welcome your feedback and hope you’ll join me again!

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Archives, bella luna toys, Childhood, Natural Toys, Parenting, Play, Sunday With Sarah, Waldorf Dolls, Waldorf Toys

Sarah’s Favorite Dolls for Boys

Last week I posted an article on the importance of doll play for boys.

This week on “Sunday With Sarah” I’ve made a new video sharing some of my very favorite Waldorf dolls for boys that we carry at Bella Luna Toys.

I hope it will inspire you to give a boy in your life a doll to love!

Let me know what you think.

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