3 Things That Will Make Your Children Want to Read More
October 26th, 2021 | Nicole Chavers Stratton
Human beings are natural-born storytellers and story consumers. From cradle to grave, we watch, listen to, and love stories, and in this Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube saturated world, there are plenty of things to keep our minds and hearts occupied. But I’m sure every parent can see that not all of these stories are told for the good of their children. So much of the content that is being produced, even for the youngest age groups, speaks of a culture that does not value that which is pure, and lovely, and of good report.
But what are you supposed to do? Abandon storytelling altogether? Read only stories written before the year 1600? Hide your children under a rock? The problem is very real, but there are legitimate, real-world solutions and steps that you as a parent can take to not only open the horizons of your child’s imagination, but also use that medium of storytelling as a means of developing your child’s moral, spiritual, and emotional maturity.
#1: Pick CLASSIC stories to grow their character
I’m sure all of you would agree that it is important to pick a “good” story. But the fact is, wading through all the bad and determining what is truly good is where a lot of parents can feel lost.
What makes a book good? If we look at it in an extreme way, some might say that if it isn’t straight from the Bible or explicitly Christian, it can’t be trusted. Some others on the opposite end of the spectrum may say that as long as a story is entertaining, there can be no harm in it. But there is a middle ground. If you look at a typical classic children’s story, such as Charlotte’s Web or The Wind in the Willows, even these stories that aren’t explicitly Christian in nature explore and celebrate Christian virtues such as self-sacrificial love and friendship. Although the stories themselves aren’t straight from the Bible, the characters have strong, Biblical characteristics that any child can admire and learn from. In November, our students will be producing selections from these stories as well as Nenyahsa’s Good Deed, an African folktale. While they obviously aren’t adapted from scripture, all three present important messages to the audience that are true and good.
A “good” story is one that paints the pure and lovely in a positive light and properly identifies evil and sin as negative and unacceptable. Now, this doesn’t mean your children’s stories should be oversimplified or unartistic in their presentation of good and evil—-just the opposite. Even with our elementary musicals, we strive to create characters and plots that are working through real, relatable problems. Through these well-developed characters learning, growing, and changing in a realistic way, you can engage your child’s mind, will, and emotions on a deeper level. And that is where change begins!
As we work with our Conservatory students every year to bring short cuttings of classic stories to life on stage, they get to see with their own eyes how effective these amazing stories are at bringing to life a message for the audience. We could just tell the audience that recklessness leads to tough consequences, but when we take the time instead to show them Mr. Toad of Toad Hall throwing himself into danger at every turn, and then the just consequences for his actions, it vividly illustrates the truth for the child in a powerful, unforgettable way.
That is the power of a good, classic story. Not just fluffy cartoons that will keep their attention—real, challenging, but fun stories that consistently lift up the good and speak against evil! These stories not only tell the truth, they show it, celebrate it, and help it live in a new and powerful way! And those are the types of stories you want to give your kids and give them the opportunity to watch!
#2 Make it an EVENT!
Storytime should be many things, but I can tell you one thing it should NOT BE: boring. Engaging your child’s imagination through these stories is the perfect opportunity to involve the whole family.
Let storytime be a real event! Don’t just read it aloud, do the character voices! Invite your kids to act out portions! Take the story that lives on the page, and let it live and breathe in your children’s minds! Do you have a child that is more artistic? Ask them to draw pictures of the different characters and scenes. Let them use their imagination to enter into the story in a new way. Storytime can be so much more than just something to occupy your children, it can be a real stepping stone to even greater creativity.
Let the sky be their limit! Here at the Logos, we see the truth of this every time a child steps through our doors, whether it be as a performer in one of our children’s camps, or for one of our performances. A story that they thought they knew suddenly comes to life for them. It becomes a real event, and solidifies the messages in the story in a dynamic way.
Don’t let the stories become just entertainment for your kids. Remember that they are tools you can use to help develop your child morally, spiritually, and emotionally, so it is well worth the investment of time and effort it takes to make that story live on a different level in your child’s mind and heart!
#3: Bring the book to real LIFE
A final tip for really using classic stories to make an impact on your child’s life is the importance of letting the story live on in REAL LIFE! There are certain books from my own childhood that I can look back on as being an actual inspiration and challenge to me in how I lived my life. They encouraged me to emulate bravery, self-sacrifice, standing up for truth, and so many other traits that are undervalued in our culture and the stories that are so often presented today. But what really made these stories so influential to me is that week after week, year after year, these stories and the characters in them stayed in my mind.
One of the most effective ways to make that kind of lasting impact on a child’s heart and memory is to allow them to see the story presented visually. That is one of the main reasons we decided to produce our Children’s Literary Stage Series this November 2, 9, and 16! We are able to present classic, powerfully written stories that engage a child’s heart, mind, and will, and we are able to do it in a dynamic, visually beautiful format that allows even the youngest of children to experience these stories. From The Wind in the Willows (the whimsical tale of Mr. Toad and his escapades, and the friends who love him enough to help him) to Charlotte’s Web (the classic story of friendship, love, and sacrifice) to Nenyahsa’s Good Deed (an African folk tale that celebrates kindness and a servant-hearted attitude) we are thrilled to be able to introduce these wonderful stories to the younger generation, knowing that they have the ability to make a positive impact on their lives.
The Children’s Literary Stage Series is just around the corner, and I for one can’t wait to experience these wonderful stories on the stage, but even more than that, I am excited to see the kids! They are in for an experience of a lifetime and I KNOW every one of them has the potential to be just as brave and kind as the characters in the Children’s Literary Stage Series are!
Stories really are the stepping stones to greatness, and we know presenting The Wind in the Willows, Charlotte’s Web, and Nenyahsa’s Good Deed can be one of those steps in your child’s life.
You can join the many parents and teachers who are already making an investment in the development of their children and open the door of opportunity to inspire their love of what is good, heroic, and beautiful!
Visit our box office or call our office at 864-268-9342 to give your children an opportunity to see these classic works on stage! We can’t wait to see you there and hear how your children’s love for reading and good literature has grown!!
