Do you wonder how to tell a story? How to begin? First, set up the space!

Is there a place in your home that feels like the perfect spot to set up a storytelling area? It can be a permanent space but it doesn't need to be. Sometimes creating a space where the storytelling happens and then putting it back to normal again - simply - is a perfect way to make story time even more special. When I have my little playgroup over on Mondays I move some furniture aside and set out a pretty little rug. I have a special shawl that I put on and a candle that I light - after calling the fire fairies and while I am singing the storytelling song (listen to the song at the end of this blog post). Then the mood has been set and I go right in to telling my story. "Where was it, where was it not. When was it, when was it not?" I say slowly and softly to create the mood and to gather the children in even further. By now there is a sense of expectation in the air and a stillness of sorts around us. The magic is beginning. 

​Do you ever feel like your kids are competing with your phone for your attention? Many kids do. Indeed, more than half of today’s kids feel their parents spend too much time on their phones. And believe it or not, a significant number of parents agree. 
 
What’s the big deal? Well, the journal Child Development suggests that our mobile phone behavior can have huge impacts on our children’s behavior. Children who feel overlooked by technology-focused parents are more prone to whining, sulking, frustration, and tantrums. And it’s not only behavior that’s impacted, but development as well.
 
What can we do?