Oral Storytelling

Storytelling in the oral tradition is one of the most beautiful and distinctive parts of Steiner-Waldorf early childhood.

As human beings oral storytelling is deeply woven through our history, our ancestors told stories as rights of passage, for comfort, for healing, for socialisation. Eventually this evolved and with the dawn of the printing press books became more widespread and reading became popular , families gathering in one room to listen to a reader.

Listening to stories holds such magic, such mystery and connection, and stories told to children in the oral tradition can bring to life and idea, can help children heal from trauma or upset and can fuel the imagination.

Oral storytelling at home can look very different to a kindergarten space, with sometimes lone children, the tendency to just sit and watch without peers there can be too much. If you are wanting to tell stories at home here are a couple of tips to make it a stress free experience for you and your child.

🌈 Start small, if storytelling is new to you and your child, start with stories you know, this could be retelling a favourite book with some selected toys as props or retell a simple walk to the shop of trip to the park.

🌈Make it a show! The unveiling of a story is so fun! Allow your child to feel the excitement of what is below a piece of silk. Add a cushion for sitting on.

🌈Add some songs, don’t have any or cannot think of any telling a story about a farm, sing old McDonald.

🌈Tell it on your lap. Especially great for younger children who love to sit close

🌈Allow children to become involved, younger children may find it more difficult to resist holding objects, you can always place a toy on their cushion too so they feel involved.

🌈Don’t sweat about it, you are not auditioning for the Royal Shakespeare Company, you are bringing joy to your child who thinks you are the centre of their world anyway, if you make a mistake or forget where you are, take the thought train in a different direction.

🌈Use what you have to hand plants and rocks from outside

🌈Leave it out for play, can you see what happens when you do? ⬆️ I got a little show this morning.

Happy storytelling 😊