Kids News Short Story Competition: How storytelling can help you foster a meaningful relationship with your grandchildren
- Replies 1
We’ve all had our fair share of misadventures growing up. Well, it turns out that sharing personal stories with your grandkids can overcome any age gap and create a lasting relationship with them.
Experts revealed that Australia’s ageing population paved the way for an opportunity to introduce ‘grandfriends’ into childcare or educational settings for multi-generational storytelling.
Griffith University Emeritus Professor Anneke Fitzgerald explained that our bodies and brains benefit from communicating with others and swapping stories. This makes storytelling with little ones a fruitful activity to engage in.
Entries for the competition will close on June 24. Image Credit: Kids News
Professor Fitzgerald touched on the Australian Institute for Intergenerational Practice’s Bridging Ages life stories project, saying that for older people the initiative may “delay some cognitive and physical decline,” and “develop a level of empathy that is very, very evident,” for younger children.
Her team’s research discovered that toddlers regularly interacting with older people may reduce their chances of committing delinquent acts as teens.
“What we do know is it creates very good and strong relationships,” she detailed.
Experts added that one-on-one time with a photo album or a book seemed to work best.
“That’s the highest level of engagement you can have – sitting with a child on your lap reading a book with them,” she continued.
Grandfather of five Riley Lee said that watching his wife Patricia share family stories with their grandchildren also puts him in a better mood.
Patricia with her grandchildren. Image Credit: news.com.au
“I get great pleasure listening to Patricia tell stories about her childhood and watching how they listen to her with wonderful concentration,” he said.
One of their grandchildren, Oskar Lee, 11, said that his grandparents like using images to describe the stories, such as when he was shown a picture of his mum holding a puppy as well as his aunt dressed as an astronaut.
Funny, peculiar, and suspenseful types of stories often succeed more than light-hearted tales, like when Oskar’s country-raised nan once told him about the time she was stalked home from school.
The haunting footsteps and creepy moaning behind her turned out to be an innocent pig – but the story’s perfect mix of horror and trotters made it to the top of the family’s list of favourite stories.
Little Oskar added: “When something either bad or funny happens in their stories, it helps me understand what it was like for them. I can piece together bits of their life that were similar to mine… And connect them somehow.”
Sharing childhood tales may also help you find similar interests with your grandkids.
“My grandpa liked manga when he was younger and he still does,” Oskar said.
“I like manga, so one day he said, ‘Why don’t we go on a trip with your sister to the city to go to this big bookshop that sells lots of manga’ and so we did that and it was lots of fun,”
And some stories may even have the potential to help them with their homework and school activities.
“You can say, ‘Oh, I know all about that, that happened to my grandparents once’,” Oskar continued.
“You could be working on the World Wars… And maybe one of your ancestors fought in it when they were still alive and you can find out about that.”
Riley and Patricia like using pictures to tell stories. Image Credit: news.com.au
If you’re wondering how you can be an effective storyteller, here are a couple of tips:
1. Don’t be afraid to share stories related to history or world events.
2. Try to create an intimate setting. One-on-one time with your grandchild (or grandchildren) can help prevent distractions and improve your connection with each other.
3. Feel free to talk about your personal interests and discover what you may have in common with them.
4. Use visual aids such as pictures and books.
5. Remember that kids are suckers for anything funny, gross, or scary.
The Kids News 2022 Short Story Competition is only accepting entries until this Friday (24 June). Click here to enter.
Do you like sharing personal stories with your grandchildren? We’d love to hear them! Share your stories (or thoughts on these tips) with us in the comments!
Experts revealed that Australia’s ageing population paved the way for an opportunity to introduce ‘grandfriends’ into childcare or educational settings for multi-generational storytelling.
Griffith University Emeritus Professor Anneke Fitzgerald explained that our bodies and brains benefit from communicating with others and swapping stories. This makes storytelling with little ones a fruitful activity to engage in.
Entries for the competition will close on June 24. Image Credit: Kids News
Professor Fitzgerald touched on the Australian Institute for Intergenerational Practice’s Bridging Ages life stories project, saying that for older people the initiative may “delay some cognitive and physical decline,” and “develop a level of empathy that is very, very evident,” for younger children.
Her team’s research discovered that toddlers regularly interacting with older people may reduce their chances of committing delinquent acts as teens.
“What we do know is it creates very good and strong relationships,” she detailed.
Experts added that one-on-one time with a photo album or a book seemed to work best.
“That’s the highest level of engagement you can have – sitting with a child on your lap reading a book with them,” she continued.
Grandfather of five Riley Lee said that watching his wife Patricia share family stories with their grandchildren also puts him in a better mood.
Patricia with her grandchildren. Image Credit: news.com.au
“I get great pleasure listening to Patricia tell stories about her childhood and watching how they listen to her with wonderful concentration,” he said.
One of their grandchildren, Oskar Lee, 11, said that his grandparents like using images to describe the stories, such as when he was shown a picture of his mum holding a puppy as well as his aunt dressed as an astronaut.
Funny, peculiar, and suspenseful types of stories often succeed more than light-hearted tales, like when Oskar’s country-raised nan once told him about the time she was stalked home from school.
The haunting footsteps and creepy moaning behind her turned out to be an innocent pig – but the story’s perfect mix of horror and trotters made it to the top of the family’s list of favourite stories.
Little Oskar added: “When something either bad or funny happens in their stories, it helps me understand what it was like for them. I can piece together bits of their life that were similar to mine… And connect them somehow.”
Sharing childhood tales may also help you find similar interests with your grandkids.
“My grandpa liked manga when he was younger and he still does,” Oskar said.
“I like manga, so one day he said, ‘Why don’t we go on a trip with your sister to the city to go to this big bookshop that sells lots of manga’ and so we did that and it was lots of fun,”
And some stories may even have the potential to help them with their homework and school activities.
“You can say, ‘Oh, I know all about that, that happened to my grandparents once’,” Oskar continued.
“You could be working on the World Wars… And maybe one of your ancestors fought in it when they were still alive and you can find out about that.”
Riley and Patricia like using pictures to tell stories. Image Credit: news.com.au
If you’re wondering how you can be an effective storyteller, here are a couple of tips:
1. Don’t be afraid to share stories related to history or world events.
2. Try to create an intimate setting. One-on-one time with your grandchild (or grandchildren) can help prevent distractions and improve your connection with each other.
3. Feel free to talk about your personal interests and discover what you may have in common with them.
4. Use visual aids such as pictures and books.
5. Remember that kids are suckers for anything funny, gross, or scary.
The Kids News 2022 Short Story Competition is only accepting entries until this Friday (24 June). Click here to enter.
Do you like sharing personal stories with your grandchildren? We’d love to hear them! Share your stories (or thoughts on these tips) with us in the comments!
.png){kind=icon}
