This article has been written by storytelling specialists, Tonya and Natasha, from Little Creative Days
Stories are such a powerful tool, they can help us to make sense of the world and each other. This is because we are hardwired to learn this way. Therefore there is no better way to help young children learn about each other and each other’s cultures.
Although we live in a very multi-cultural society there are just as many similarities between us as there are differences. Using stories, especially fairy tales, from around the world is a brilliant way of helping children to understand those similarities and differences.
So how can we use stories to help children learn about each other?
There are numerous versions of the fairy tale Cinderella that have been written and told in different countries. We came up with about 14 or 15 at the last count and we’re sure there are more! In one session we picked Yeh Shen which is a Chinese version. After reading both stories to the children we talked about what similarities and differences there were between them. For example, there was a wicked stepmother in both Cinderella and Yeh Shen. But in Yeh Shen it was fishbones that helped her, whereas in Cinderella it was the fairy godmother.
Talking through the stories in this way is an important thinking skill for young children. It is also a great way to boost their comprehension. In addition, children learn to experience different emotions from love and hope to anger and loneliness. They see the difference between right and wrong and the moral messages it conveys. They also see that we all experience the same universal emotions no matter where you come from.
About the authors
Tonya and Natasha, the storytelling sisters, are authors of a series of books about a little dog called Pojo who gets itchy paws and goes off on adventures.
They have won multiple awards for their puppet making kits that accompany the stories. This includes Teach Early Years Excellence award for Communication and Language Resource.
