We love fairy tales at Crawford Childcare. One of our favourites in the baby room at the moment is “The Gingerbread Man”. While our toddlers always ask for “The Three Little Pigs”. The Montessori children are divided between “Cinderella” and “Little Red Riding Hood.” What’s your Favourite fairy tale? We would love for you to let us know or perhaps some parents would like to come in to lead a story telling session?? Let us know if you are interested!

Children of all ages love stories and love to listen to them. Story telling is an interactive art that has cognitive, social, emotional and language benefits for children. Story telling is both comforting and fun!

When telling a story to children it is important to promote their thinking capacity and help stimulate their brain by asking children questions about a story in a way that promotes problem-solving. This encourages children to think actively and use their memory to answer questions leading to better concentration skills.

Children love group activities. Story telling in small groups is beneficial for social development when the children sit with each other and are encouraged to interact with each other by sharing props and turn taking.

Story telling can be relaxing and/ or exciting for children. It also helps strengthen the children’s understanding of language and is fantastic at developing listening skills. When children listen to a story they take in information and new vocabulary.

A child hearing a story of someone going through a similar situation to them may gain comfort and lead to the child expressing their feelings. Story telling is also a great way to introduce new experiences to children in a safe, non-threatening way. Ways to deal with situations can then be explored and practiced through role play and imaginative play.

Albert Einstein summed up his views on story telling by saying “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent read them more fairy tales.”

Can you put your name down to come in and tell us your favourite story? We guarantee a captive audience!