Storytelling and Culture

One of the most cherished memories of childhood includes bed time stories by grandparents or parents. It was one of the most awaited moments of the day when we settled down comfortably eager for the next story. A story telling session followed a moral, a message for us to inculcate for lifetime. For any child’s development these stories, form the basic mould. To teach children, their culture or things about their ancestors, it is easier to connect it in context with a bedtime story. These stories and morals go a long way in the mental and behavioral development. What magnificence children stories hold, they are more than just a plot with a story line designed to make the child all asleep. They seep into their internal moral and message, it teaches the child to choose and conduct in the particular way the protagonist of their favorite stories do. The moral is clear and becomes a source of value education that goes a long way.

These stories are also the building blocks of language and communication for toddlers. They learn the way to phrase sentences and form messages which are comprehensive for their friends and family. Most of the virtues that parents today teach their children or try to communicate via spoken words are easier through these stories. This is also a fine medium to teach kids about their cultural past. Panchtantra and Ramayana comics are fine examples of cultural teaching in form of stories that intrigue the children and make a lasting impression on their mind which will go a long way. Kids today are well versed with the online world; social networking, music store online or stock wallpapers are easily feasible for them. This has also reduced the amount of time they spend with family, talking about the day and what happened at school.

Story telling at bedtime can be appropriately used as personal time with children; spending time with them is necessary to understand the progress and needs of the little individual. Bedtime stories will make up to become best memories of their childhood, an indirect way to inculcate appropriate manners and ethics with values of the culture they belong to. Memories and experiences fade, but childhood memories like these will remain in the conscience of children. It is the easiest way to teach and make sure that culture is handed over to each generation in form of stories, keeping alive the memories of the ancestors.

Source:- http://www.artipot.com/articles/2039674/storytelling-and-culture.htm