Grandpa’s Storytelling Stories: Storytelling Tips for Grandparents.
Grandparenting creates a special and unique bond with your grandchildren, whether these children are your own family or now part of your “adopted family.” Storytelling can play a part of this bonding process while you will be easily passing on family values. Storytelling can also improve the reading and math skills of children.
Although reading books is an important thing we adults do with children, there is a great power in learning “storytelling,” too. By this, I mean putting down the storybooks and telling, from your own mind and heart, stories to children.
This real storytelling allows you to look your grandchild in the eye, use a full range of gestures and allow the child to become a co-creator of the storytelling experience.
Here are three steps to getting started.
1. Remember Stories You Loved Or Find Some New Stories
No, not everyone has memories of hearing stories as a child. But- if you think deeply about it- you might be able to recall stories you were told. The Internet is a huge resource for storytelling. A website such as Aesopfables.com will offer many short stories. Taking a browse through that site might also trigger memories of stories you were told. If you’d like a free story to start you off, please click on the little mouse on the front page of my www.daddyteller.com
2. Break the Story Into Parts and Pieces.
The roadblock I hear the most is, “I can’t memorize anything!” Rather than memorize the story, break it into pieces. Then, when you retell the story, see the pieces in your head and describe those scenes one by one. A storyteller creates images in the mind of their listener.
3. Use your body to tell the story.
Don’t be shy! Look the child in the eye while you are telling your stories. Use gestures to indicate the ups, downs and over-there’s of the tale. Speak like a quiet, little mouse or a loud, huge elephant. Play with the story you are telling. It’s fun and it encourages the child to go deeper into their own imagination- creating new thoughts, ideas and possibilities for learning.
There is wonder and excitement waiting in good storytelling. Minds are set free, new brain links develop and ideas are created with good storytelling.
And- your grandkids might get something out of it, too.
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Sean Buvala is a full-time national storyteller and has been so for 25 years. He is the author of the book, “DaddyTeller: How to be a Hero to Your Kid,” where he teaches fathers and grandfathers how to influence their children with book-down storytelling. Moms and grandmothers are welcome to come learn, too. You can visit his site for free stories and videos at http://www.daddyteller.com .
…I wanted to blurt out.
I was doing fine all month long, but it got to me this week.
I belong to an old fitness club. ‘Old’ meaning that most of the members have been members for 15+ years, raised their kids at this club, started at the club taking aerobics classes and now show up for the social aspects. With a pounding headache and a sore neck, I decided to forgo my workout for a soak in the whirlpool, which is next to the lap pool. At 10 til the hour, the pool area began filling up with water aerobic class students. At this ‘old’ club, that meant older ladies, chatting away while they adjusted their large brimmed sun hats, sunglasses and water shoes.
The instructor bounced into the pool area, laughing that it took her another 5 minutes to get her students’ attention to begin the class.
I began to tear up and quietly left the pool area. I made it through the locker room and into a shower, as the tears began to flow.
My mother would have been 70 years old this year. She would have taken that water aerobics class. She’d be old and wrinkly but wearing fabulous hats and colorful swimsuits. You know, the kinds with the little flair skirts.
She’d take her water aerobics class with ‘the girls’, then shower and dress and head over to see her grandchildren for lunch. She’d adore them. They’d adore her. I’d live in a house of love and laughter.
Wait, I have to put the brakes on.
That’s not my life right now. We don’t have grandparents for my daughter anymore. Or rather, Yet. We don’t have grandparents for my daughter… yet.
Today I wanted to blurt out:
“Today is the anniversary of my mother’s death. I need a hug. I need to be taken care of. I need my daughter to know that kind of grandparenting love. Somebody. Love us.”
By: Angi McElfresh, RN, BHSA – Owner of www.AskaNurseNow.info
Every individual longs to have a social connection with another individual. This article examines the aging population in the U.S. and the social isolation they face. In 2009, it projected that the number of elderly, aged 65 and over is to be around 516 million here in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). The Commonwealth Fund Commission, reports that one-third of the elderly live alone (Gusmano & Rodwin, 2006). Elderly individuals who live alone are invisible to their communities. They can be homebound and not seen out in their communities, therefore, the degree of barriers older individuals face are commonly unknown.
This population is at higher risk of social isolation due to a variety of reasons. Isolation can be from decreased mobility (inability to drive or tolerate walking for long periods), hearing impairments, health problems, death of a spouse or lack of connecting to resources that allows them to participate in socializing activities. Social isolation plays a large role in the decline of an elderly person’s health. Studies show, that social isolation negatively influences the elderly, by putting them at higher risk for developing depression and performing their activities of daily living (George PhD, Bosworth PhD, Steffens MD, Flint PhD, & Hays R.N, 2001). Activities of daily living is defined as: the ability to care for one’s own self, such as dressing, preparing food and caring for their home.
Doctor offices commonly treat and see the elderly population on a regular basis, but fail to recognize this problem & address it. This can be due to a lack of knowledge of resources that can address the isolation or that the elderly individual fails to report this to their physician. Social isolation can lead to feelings of purposelessness & a loss of identity in all ages, but especially in older adults (Smith, 2010). Connecting these individuals to others is vital, but the number of resources is small. It is important for older individuals to feel they make a contribution, either by participating in an event, relating stories and experiences or socially interacting with others. Programs and organizations that promote social interaction among seniors is an integral aspect of successful aging, which promotes life satisfaction and improved quality of life (Stevens-Ratchford, 2008). Many studies show that older adults who remain socially connected, report a greater life satisfaction and enjoy an overall higher quality of life then those who lack social connections (Stevens-Ratchford, 2008).
A website that promotes the formation of inter-generational relationships between the older populations to younger families, who lack this, is www.surrogategrandparenting.com. This free resource matches older adults to younger families who lack grandparent-like roles in their lives. Please visit www.surrogategrandparenting.com for more information.
(In addition, another free resource is www.AskaNurseNow.info will connect an elderly individual to resources located in their community that will promote their health and address barriers they face, by experienced Registered Nurses.)
…because this Mother’s Day was “great”: I have a wonderful daughter and a wonderful husband… but it was also sad for me, I felt unconnected to my own mother… I miss her. I needed some mothering myself this Mother’s Day.
So I’ve been posting at the local recreation centers and the local grocery stores… next up is the Garden Club. I’m staying positive and hopeful, the weather is warm here in the Northeast and the nice weather is always good for getting out and meeting people! I’m waiting patiently (or is that patiently impatient?) for our surrogate grandparent(s). We know you’re out there!
Let me know what you’re doing while (im)patiently waiting for your family to arrive?
We’ve got three states represented now: Massachusetts, Oregon and South Carolina! Welcome newest members!
Remember, if you don’t find your match on the site yet, promote locally with flyers. Feel free to download, print and post in your community. They’re available here. Reply to the post How Else Should We Get The Word Out? and let me know if there are local online groups you’d like me to approach, I’m happy to help us find our new families!
Thank you members!
We live in a great neighborhood. Still, I’ve been inclined to lock the side door more often, though admittedly, not consistently. I put the toddler down to nap and ran around the house doing all my picking up and putting away. Today included beginning to train the dog to use only one corner of the yard for her ‘business’. I had the treats, I had the will to stand near the fenced off corner giving positive commands, “Tinkle!” and “Poop!” while she sat on her rear, looking up at me, expecting treats.
Okay, so I gave up. And headed back inside.
You see where this is going, right? I locked myself out of the house. Luckily my neighbor was home and she gave me a lift… through our bathroom window.
Luckily, the kid hadn’t awoken from her nap yet. And the dog tinkled and pooped all around the other half of the yard. And so I continued where I left off: picking up and putting away.
What did you do today?
What’s your favorite parent blog? Fiercely loyal readers? Trendsetters? That’s who will help us get the word out.
Post your most read blog here! I’ll approach them and let them know we’re here!
This is exciting to be launching an online group like this. I look forward to hearing about new families being created through this community and how it has changed lives. Selfishly, I am excited about finding a new surrogate family (grandmother, grandfather, even local surrogate aunts and uncles) for myself, my husband and my daughter. It’s just time.
Thank you for taking a look at this site and letting me know via email of any issues you encounter, or improvements you see possible that would make this community better. I think this concept has a lot of potential and am hopeful for good things to happen as a result. Email me feedback at: feedback@surrogategrandparenting.com. I’ll make as many changes as I can throughout the month of April and we’ll try to launch in May. And no, that’s not an April Fool’s Day joke. However, Happy April Fool’s Day! Which reminds me, I need to make sure my Announcement includes “a good sense of humor” in it.
Welcome to the family,
Christene
The past two Wanted posts: solved! Thank you!
…for the Disclaimer and the Background check… I’m on a shoestring budget once again… and would love if an early reader of SurrogateGrandparenting.com could/would help us out.
Contact me at: christene at helpnewengland.com
Thank you!
