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Ten Reasons to Tell your Kids Stories

by Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC

In today's busy world, many parents have lost the art of telling their stories to their kids. Here are some reasons why these stories are so beneficial, both for you and your kids:

1. Use them to teach lessons about life. Stories will stimulate conversations with your kids more effectively than lecturing, or "trying to get them to talk." There are a lot of issues happening for your kids these days, and stories give them a chance to reflect on them.

2. Stories connect your kids with previous generations. In a society that seems to have families spread out all over, it's vitally important to have ways for your kids to feel connected to their extended families.

3. Stories stimulate your kids' imagination. One of the best ways to prepare your kids for the world is to engage them in vivid stories that stir their imagination. Kids who are exposed to these kinds of stories will be the creative problem-solvers of the future.

4. Kids who are exposed to stories will continue the tradition with their own families. Knowing that your family traditions and stories will be carried on by future generations is very comforting, as well as a great benefit for your children's children.

5. Stories can encourage your kids when they're discouraged.
Childhood can get pretty discouraging sometimes. Kids are encouraged when they know Mom or Dad have experienced the
same kinds of things, and they've survived.

6. Telling your stories helps you remember your own childhood.
Telling your kids about your childhood is a great way for you to remember and reflect on what was important about your past.

7. Telling stories helps to create depth and soul in your kids. In a TV and media-crazy culture, telling stories can capture and hold your kids' attention, and convey real meaning. It's a way to show your kids what's really important in your life.

8. Telling stories to your kids tells them they're worth the time. Is there anything more important than showing your kids that you want to spend intimate time with them? They'll remember it forever.

9. Telling stories is a great chance to convey your values. Your kids will be getting quite a few messages from their friends, and from popular culture. Stories are a great opportunity to sneak in a few of your cherished values for your kids to hear.

10. Well-crafted stories create a wonderful mind-set for your kids before they fall asleep. Kids will fall asleep faster, and with healthier images, when you tell them your stories.

Creating a ritual of telling your stories will create a lifetime of memories for your kids. It will deepen your relationship, and show them how much you care.

And, it's never too late to start.

Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC, coaches busy parents by phone to balance their life and improve their family relationships. For a FREE twenty minute sample session by phone; a FREE ecourse, ebooks, courses, articles, and a FREE newsletter, go to http://www.markbrandenburg.com or email him at mark@markbrandenburg.com