Diary Writing, Story telling

1. There have been great societies that did not
use the wheel, but there have been no
societies that did not tell stories.
—Ursula K. LeGuin
Diary Writing on:
Role of Story telling in
bringing up a child
Susmita Pruthi
1 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing

2. 10:29 pm
The universe is made of stories, not atoms.
—Muriel Rukeyser

3. Story telling has been one of my
favourite pass time with my
daughters! It had been a very
sacred time for us, a judicious
10-15 minutes every night
before sleep.
I remember, I started with little non sensensical tit-bits
when they were just 4-5 months old. They would listen
to me with rapt attention and respond with their
gurgling sounds, sometimes, giggling, smiling and
sometimes kicking or flaying their hands. I would
obviously consider this as a kind of response to what I
was telling and weave the next sentence accordingly!
I was considered a NUT to be talking to new borns!
But it helped me carry this tradition on as they
continued to grow into their months and years. Of
course, there were obvious changes in the form and
nature of the story and the level of interaction as
suitable for the age.
3 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

4. Stories like the Rabbit and the
Lion,
the Thirsty Crow, the Rabbit
and the Tortoise, the Monkey
and the Crocodile -
Panchatantras have been
an integral part of their
growing.
We moved to other stories including shifting to reading
stories from Champak, Nandan and so on.
4 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

5. BY THE WAY, even according to our Indian
mythology, the process of educating and moulding
process of human being’s character starts right from
the womb. An expecting mother better be ready for
innumerable advices and dos and don’ts, not only
regarding her diet, but also about her other activities,
e.g. read religious and other good books and not to
read vicious books or to watch violent or sadistic
movies.
Refer the episode from Mahabharatha, incidentally
my knowledge from reading Amar Chitra Katha.
Abhimanyu learnt to break the chakra vyu when he
was still in his mother’s womb while Arjuna was
explaining it to his pregnant wife. But as Lord Krishna
called Arjuna, he could not complete the explanation
how to come out of it and so Abhimanyu could not
learn the secret of getting out of it.
I think there are some modern research done that
shows that emotions and feelings can be formed in
the brain even before we are born.
5 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

6. I will continue that experience tomorrow. I will try and
see if I can get other people's response on this
concept, their perspectives - kids, moms/dads, grand
moms/dads, uncles/aunties ...
6 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

7. 9:45 pm
Because there is a natural storytelling urge and ability in all
human beings, even just a little nurturing of this impulse can
bring about astonishing and delightful results.
—Nancy Mellon, The Art of Storytelling

8. Continuing from yesterday, I
want to focus on "Mother-Child
Storytelling Ritual“ today.
A mother who tell stories to
their children during bed time
encourage them to respond
and evaluate the story
according to their
understanding. Conversations
and questions but it also
develops the curiosity in the
child.
The curiosity in the child helps the child’s mind to ask
more questions and learn more. Conversations and
questions but it also develops the curiosity in the child.
The curiosity in the child helps the child’s mind to ask
more questions and learn more.
It also helps build a bond between the mother and the
children - the child gets more comfortable with sharing
everything with the mother because they will develop
skills to have a conversation with their mother.
8 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

9. Additionally, the story telling experience also:
Helps in the development of

the personality of the child, help
the child to be better at
communicational skills
Helps transmit socio-cultural

values
Communicate morals and values - the story

becomes a part of the child’s thought and the value
being taught is also a part of his thought, the child will
then try to put it to practice.
9 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

10. 11:05 pm
Stories are how we learn. The progenitors of the world’s
religions understood this, handing down our great myths and
legends from generation to generation.
—Bill Mooney and David Holt, The Storyteller’s Guide

11. Benefits of Story telling
While discussing this today with some of my
colleagues, I found another interesting aspect of story-
telling – exercise of the child doing story telling.
Schools nowadays give this assignment for kids in
primary school to come up in the class and do story
telling. I find this interesting as it allows the child to
display all his learning - the story itself, it's learning,
communication, confidence, public speaking and so on.
I believe that story telling in a very unique and
interesting way brings out personality traits and
polishes them for life.
11 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

12. For example:
Telling a story that deals with a fear your child is
wrestling with helps in defusing fears. For example,
>> if your child is afraid of thunderstorms, tell a story
about a child or animal who finds a safe, cozy place to
curl up during a storm.
Most of the times children believe they can overcome
fear when they see someone else conquer a fear
before they do. Make use of puppets, stuffed animals
and prewritten stories, when possible.
Using the characters in a story, it is easy to
communicate your reasons behind limits and
boundaries as you show your child why you make
certain decisions. As the story is about fictional
characters, the child generally is be able understand it
(and the reasoning behind it) without becoming
defensive.
12 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

13. Storytelling is a great way to open up any child's
imagination. Interacting with the story teller as they
tell stories, making up characters and monsters or
obstacles for the characters. After a while, the child may
surprise you by inventing one instead !!
We all know that most of the fairy tales and nursery
rhymes have morals woven into them. Using these
traditional fairytales coupled with modern children's
books and one's own imagination, one is able to convey
the right morals and value system to the children.
Tell a story
>> that praises kindness, generosity and inclusiveness.
>> The Little Red Hen who helped everybody - it will
help set a good example.
As expressed earlier, storytelling is bonding up with
children. They will always remember the hours you
spent talking in silly voices, making up ridiculous
characters and laughing about the stories you told -
parent-child bonding.
13 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

14. 9:50 pm
If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them
away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story
more than food to stay alive.
—Barry Lopez, in Crow and Weasel

15. It has been very instinctive for me – as an elder sister in
a big crowd of siblings, a leader during school days, an
‘educated’ professional amongst not-so educated ones,
a mother. But I have always seen story telling sessions,
experience sharing sessions, make some difference to
the person, in the person – same time or some time
later.
So what kind of learning happened?
 Language skills (vocabulary, grammar, syntax and
pronunciation).
 Their attention span and their ability to listen.
 Their ability to follow instructions.
 Their ability to co-operate with others
 An understanding of concepts
 An understanding of human nature.
 An understanding of feelings.
 An awareness of the role characteristics people
assume.
 An understanding of sequence.
15 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

16. Story telling can really act as a therapy also!
Children will absorb lessons learned by characters in a
story without being defensive about their own issues.
Children who have gone through traumatic experiences
can process those experiences and learn to trust and
feel safe again through repeated stories with positive
outcomes.
Children watch the story's characters overcome similar
obstacles, which boosts confidence that victory is
possible and positive outcomes are realistic.
Being subtle yet positive towards a concern – personal
or otherwise has always helped.
Being creative, varying the story – characters,
background etc – helps in many ways. Sometime, for
younger children, one has to be re-iterative yet be new
to send a message home.
Prompting children when repeating a story, helps the
child pull from the earlier memory. Allowing them to tell
the story, fill in the story or / and complete the story
allows them to communicate as well as inform you of
their NU ET511 | Assignment 5 |never know what is revealed!
16 perspectives. You Diary Writing
Susmita Pruthi

17. Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more
powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the
currency of human contact.
— Robert McKee

18. I believe story telling is an art!
I have seen the disinterest of many children when the
word ‘story’ is mentioned. In a world crammed with
television programmes, cartoons and interesting audio
and visual aids traditional story telling is facing a big
challenge. These mediums are bringing the stories
alive for them irrespective. And with the additional
advantage of three-dimensional stories available as
and when they want versus the old-fashioned way, on a
warm weekend afternoon or drowsy week nights – what
wins?
18 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

19. I have some tricks to share, of basis my experience!
>> Stretching your stories , exaggerating, brings
an element of fun, disbelief, awe and sometimes an
interaction!
>> Remember the three Little Pigs' "I'll huff and I'll
puff and I'll blow your house down!" or the "Old
Mac Donalds had a Farm"?! Many a times it is the
repetition that allows your audience to get
involved as they come to expect a repeated phrase
or theme.
>> Using voice modulations brings the story to
life! And, kids love a story told in different voices.
Sometimes, depending on the age group,
ridiculously exaggerated voices for each character
in the story; the more distinct and unique the
voices, the better.
19 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

20. 10:22 pm
Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more
powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are
the currency of human contact.
— Robert McKee

21. Having discussed the same with many parents,
grandparents, kids, I realized that many really didn’t
know the power of story telling in any child's personality
and future life.
I spoke to some of my colleagues and here is an
opinion. I wish had more time to capture more views
….
Play the slide in PPT Show mode
Click on the video to Play
21 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

22. Story telling sessions are like a set of magical wings of
imagination that helps them become more creative
and think out of the box. With oodles of enthusiasm,
voice modulation and a dollop of acting, it involves the
whole family and helps them bond better.
Today's children (or rather any child of any era) never
likes to be told what to do and how to do. So, instead
of preaching morals and values, storytelling helps
parents weave them into their stories and narrate it to
their children in an interesting manner - giving
answers to "Why should I do this" and "What is in it
for me". Listening to stories from the time they were
very small, they remember the plots and morals
subconsciously, delving into what they’ve heard as
they grow up. And, if possible, use them correctly.
22 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

23. I remember many such instances shared by my elder
daughter who is a very impressionable young lady.
Many a times, while having casual conversations, it
has come out that she has taken the 'right' decision
under the circumstances, just because she could
relate to some story, value or other such instance
based discussions we have had.
I also believe that story telling method of relating to
family history bonds them to their roots and gives
them an identity.
23 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

24. 10:45 pm
Australian Aborigines say that the big stories—the stories
worth telling and retelling, the ones in which you may find the
meaning of your life—are forever stalking the right teller,
sniffing and tracking like predators hunting their prey in the
bush.
—Robert Moss, Dreamgates

25. One lesson we can learn from pre-industrial peoples is
the power of storytelling. I am struck by how important
storytelling is among tribal peoples; it formed the basis
of their educational systems.
Knowledge that is not passed through the heart is
dangerous: it may lack wisdom; it may be a power trip;
it may squelch life out of the learners.
What if our educational systems were to insist that
teachers be poets and storytellers and artists? What
transformations would follow?
25 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

26. Storytelling is a fantastic educational tool, helping
children learn about different countries, cultures, nature
and just about anything, through stories woven around
a nugget of knowledge. For instance, you might like to
tell stories about Eskimos, or how tigers hunt in forests,
or why trees are important.
If you tell your children stories regularly and ask them
to participate with their own tales, it helps develop
better conversational and communication skills. It lets
them experiment with language and vocabulary, and
helps them put their imagination to good use.
And the best of all, storytelling is fun and your kids will
always want more.
Story is far older than the art of science
and psychology, and will always be the
elder in the equation no matter how
much time passes.
—Clarissa Pinkola Estes
26 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi

27. We derive our competence from forming
connections…the learner’s challenge is to
recognize the patterns which appear to
be hidden. Meaning-making and forming
connections between specialized
communities are important activities.
27 NU ET511 | Assignment 5 | Diary Writing Susmita Pruthi