Storytelling: Tool for Understanding Young Children Nowadays

Challenge and Selection

Storytelling is a great tool I use most of the time especially during my church activity every Sunday. I’m an  officer in our church who is responsible in taking care of our brethren ages 6 to 12 years old. Our main  goal is to teach and guide them to be a responsible human being inside and outside of their home. As  their “kuya’s” and “ate’s” we engage ourselves like part of their family as we want them to be more open  when it comes to their emotional and spiritual needs. Storytelling is one of the tools we are using to  determine their needs. At first, these young children have difficulty expressing themselves and it’s also  hard for us to understand their thoughts. Hence, a lot of efforts we are exerting before we can finally  adopt the environment and the way they express their emotions. It’s a bit challenging since these young  children usually don’t have the vocabulary to talk about how they are feeling. Instead, they communicate  their feelings in other ways. Kids can express their feelings through facial expressions, through their body,  their behavior and play. Sometimes they may act their feelings in physical, inappropriate or problematic  ways.

Application

Before we fully use this tool in our organization, the committee where I belong discussed the possible  scenario and problems we may encounter on the process. The group seems to disagree with the idea I’m  proposing since handling these young kids will take a lot of efforts and responsibilities. I told a story to the  committee group about my nephew who is very joyful and loud. One time during our family reunion, you  can see him at the center of the crowd giving laughter and entertainment to his cousins, uncles and aunts.  However, I saw him at the corner of the party hall later that night and saw a sorrow on his face. I asked  him what is his problem since earlier that day he was so energetic. At first, he is hesitant to tell me his  problem but I convince him to open up by telling a story about my problem when I was in his age. He told  me that night that he is currently facing depression because his parents are very demanding and strict on  every action he made. He was also pressured to be the valedictorian on his class as both his parents were  graduated in primary school with flying colors.

Insight and Approach

Surprisingly, I cannot imagine that his jolly and energetic actions in front of everybody hides negative  emotions such as hate, anger and sadness. I told my nephew to be open with his parents just like what I  did on my early age. I was also pressured by my parents to be the best student. Being the eldest son, they  made me understand that I will become the breadwinner of the family. At that early age, I was able to  learned how to say no at times I felt pressured, not being rebellious. However, I start to understand on  the process what they meant by saying those because they are preparing me to be a responsible son and  “kuya”. After my story telling, I saw a light on my nephew’s face and thought that he understands what  I’m trying to point out.

So, I told the story to the committee and I think I made an impact to my pitch. My proposal to use the  storytelling tool has been reconsidered. I believe that storytelling is a powerful tool to turn the table on.

This course made me realized the importance and essence of this tool. I think I obtained new ideas that  will help me to effectively execute this tool in front of someone or a bigger group.


Storytelling : Tool for Understanding Young Children Nowadays Challenge and Selection Storytelling is a great tool I use most of the time especially during my church activity every Sunday . I ’m an officer in our church who is responsible in taking care of our brethren ages 6 to 12 years old . Our main goal is to teach and guide them to be a responsible human being inside and outside of their home . As their “ kuya ’s ” and “ ate ’s ” we engage ourselves like part of their family as we want them to be more open when it comes to their emotional and spiritual needs . Storytelling is one of the tools we are using to determine their needs . At first , these young children have difficulty expressing themselves and it ’s also hard for us to understand their thoughts . Hence , a lot of efforts we are exerting before we can finally adopt the environment and the way they express their emotions . It ’s a bit challenging since these young children usually do n’t have the vocabulary to talk about how they are feeling . Instead , they communicate their feelings in other ways . Kids can express their feelings through facial expressions , through their body , their behavior and play . Sometimes they may act their feelings in physical , inappropriate or problematic ways . Application Before we fully use this tool in our organization , the committee where I belong discussed the possible scenario and problems we may encounter on the process . The group seems to disagree with the idea I ’m proposing since handling these young kids will take a lot of efforts and responsibilities . I told a story to the committee group about my nephew who is very joyful and loud . One time during our family reunion , you can see him at the center of the crowd giving laughter and entertainment to his cousins , uncles and aunts . However , I saw him at the corner of the party hall later that night and saw a sorrow on his face . I asked him what is his problem since earlier that day he was so energetic . At first , he is hesitant to tell me his problem but I convince him to open up by telling a story about my problem when I was in his age . He told me that night that he is currently facing depression because his parents are very demanding and strict on every action he made . He was also pressured to be the valedictorian on his class as both his parents were graduated in primary school with flying colors . Insight and Approach Surprisingly , I can not imagine that his jolly and energetic actions in front of everybody hides negative emotions such as hate , anger and sadness . I told my nephew to be open with his parents just like what I did on my early age . I was also pressured by my parents to be the best student . Being the eldest son , they made me understand that I will become the breadwinner of the family . At that early age , I was able to learned how to say no at times I felt pressured , not being rebellious . However , I start to understand on the process what they meant by saying those because they are preparing me to be a responsible son and “ kuya ” . After my story telling , I saw a light on my nephew ’s face and thought that he understands what I ’m trying to point out . So , I told the story to the committee and I think I made an impact to my pitch . My proposal to use the storytelling tool has been reconsidered . I believe that storytelling is a powerful tool to turn the table on . This course made me realized the importance and essence of this tool . I think I obtained new ideas that will help me to effectively execute this tool in front of someone or a bigger group .