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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.
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 to have your kids 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.
5. Stories can encourage your kids when they're discouraged. Childhood can get pretty discouraging sometimes. Kids are encouraged by knowing that Mom or Dad have gone through the same kinds of things and have survived. 6. Telling your stories has you remembering 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 younger years.
7. Telling stories helps to create depth and soul in your kids. In a TV and media-crazy culture, telling stories can capture 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 conveying to 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.
Don't pass up the opportunity to connect with your kids at the same time you tell them what's important to you. It will be a huge gift to your kids, and a huge gift to you.
Mark Brandenburg, MA, CPCC, CSC, is an author, speaker and certified relationship coach. He has worked with individuals, teams and families to improve their lives for more than 20 years. He is the author of a number of books for men, including 25 Secrets of Emotionally Intelligent Fathers. Mark coaches parents from around the country through weekly telephone coaching sessions on balancing their lives and improving their parenting. He runs workshops and gives presentations for fathers and for parents that are enthusiastically received, as well as teleclasses for parents at MarkBrandenburg.com.
