Stories that Teach

Everyone loves a story. Chances are, if you sit on the edge of a child’s bed or pull up a chair outside the bedroom door and begin with “Once upon a time … ,” you’ll have his immediate attention. Many kinds of stories can be told as you settle children for the night.

1. Situational stories. Children who don’t sit still long enough to listen to a lesson will often become engrossed in a story. Think of a difficult situation your child may be encountering. Then create a character with a different name who must face a similar problem. Tell about Jimmy who had a friend ask him to cheat. “What should Jimmy do?” Discuss various options and tell what happens to Jimmy when he makes different choices.  The kids will be able to learn through another’s experiences rather than always just their own.  Both the good and the bad consequences.

Certain of my kids would always ask me, “Is this true?”  I learned to always be completely open with them about whether I made it up or not.  But as they grew, they were much more impressed by the true ones.  Usually, I could search my memory and find a memory of a good and bad example of what I was wanting to teach them to base my story on, so I could say, “Yes, this is based on a true story!”

2. Childhood stories: Tell about your own childhood and what you learned while growing up.

My grandchildren ask and ask about when I was a girl.  It was hard to think up anything out of the ordinary to tell them, but I found that they were indeed interested in the little things like my “Easy Bake Oven” and the spider that moved inside, or the time I ran into a parked car with my bike!  I rack my brains to try to remember some things I learned as a child, to help them learn the same!

3. Fun stories:  Kids love these the most!

At our house Daddy has a favorite story he makes up about a Frisbee. He adds a new adventure each time he tells it.

I came up with a fun story about a boy named Arthur and his mishaps with bubble gum. This story is interactive, as at one point, the kids can “fill in the blanks” by choosing the names of Arthur’s friends to whom he gives gum balls!

4. Inspirational stories: Retell stories from Sacrament Meeting, clarifying and simplifying when necessary. Listen during Sunday School, Priesthood, or Relief Society meetings for stories that can be simplified and then shared with your children. Conference talks and Church magazines are also wonderful sources of stories that build faith and remind us that our Father in Heaven loves and is mindful of His children.

When my kids were younger, I learned to listen for stories at church and in magazines that could teach my kids a moral or a principle.  I retold them so they would understand and could apply them.  I felt like my children could never get too much foundation-building teachings!

5. Family Stories: Collect the stories of your own immediate family. (Or write some down yourself!) Retelling the special times, the happy memories, the tender mercies and miracles will bring family unity and security, loyalty and pride in who we are in our family.

Share stories of ancestors recorded in family histories and journals.  My mother’s family, the Flakes had a grandfather who was sent to jail for polygamy (though he had done nothing wrong).  He proceeded to turn the jail upside down with improvements and a better life for all.  Everyone was so sad when his 6 months were over!  The Flake family also had a grandmother who was a southern belle.  She gave up all her riches and luxury when she joined her husband as a pioneer, but left a wonderful legacy.  I have always loved these stories.  I hope it will also be a foundation for my children’s testimonies.

Our friends down the block, I’ll call them the Carlylse family loves to tell “tithing stories” which are miracles that have come to many members of the family after paying an honest tithing.  These stories form the basis of who they are and what they believe.

6. Scripture stories: Tell stories from the standard works. Children love to hear about Noah and the Ark or Daniel in the Lions’ den, Ammon and the King’s Flocks, or Samuel on the City Walls. Don’t leave the telling of such stories only to videocassettes or picture books. Let your children hear them from you, along with a simple testimony.

I like to tell my kids and grandkids some of the lesser known bible stories, along with the old favorites.  There is the one about the boy king Josiah, or Gideon and his army who were helped by the Lord, or Balaam and the talking donkey!  Good resources that I use are Illustrated Stories from the Bible, and  The Old Testament for Latter-day Saint Families. I like to emphasize that all these things really happened!  All Christians who believe the bible also should believe these stories.

7. Books! Don’t forget to read books.

My boys as well as my girls (and grandsons as well as granddaughters) absolutely loved the “Little House” books!  These are not just for girls, as they are filled with adventure!  I learned to not be afraid of reading long books, but just try to be as consistent as possible, even if it meant only 1 chapter or even 10 minutes a night.  The children so looked forward to it, and learned so much!  Books are so much preferred to movies, as in a book their imaginations form just what they are old enough to conceive and mature enough to conjure up.  Yes, I shielded them from evil and too much violence, but I also choose books that we all enjoyed together.  See Get em Hooked on Books post:  https://theanswerismorelove.com/2014/05/get-em-hooked-on-loving-books/

Children trust what you say and believe what you tell them, so always be completely honest with them. They will learn from your stories, and may very well surprise you how well they remember the details!  I was continually amazed that my children remembered the specifics of my stories much longer than I did!  I heard that the last 30 minutes before bed goes through a child’s head many times throughout the night!  I believe it!

When it’s time to turn out the light, you might follow your stories with a quiet lullaby, hymn, or Primary song. Children will feel your love as you quietly teach them at bedtime.

What do you like to do at bedtime?  When do you like to tell stories?  Please comment below.