Reading fairy tales to children can be a fun activity for both children and parents. Apart from being entertainment, there are many benefits of fairy tales for children which are very good for their psychological and moral development.
Mothers do not need to wait until the little one is a toddler to tell a fairy tale. The benefits of fairy tales for his development can be given since he was born, or even while still in the womb.
Even though your little one doesn't understand your mother's words, fairy tales can increase the number of words he hears every day. This is an excellent first step to stimulate your little one's listening and speaking abilities.
Know the Various Benefits of Fairy Tales for Children
Here are some of the benefits of fairy tales for children that you need to know:
1. Tighten the inner bond
Storytelling can be a moment for quality time with children. Mothers can tell stories while hugging their little ones or make funny sounds that make them laugh and feel comfortable. Togetherness is what can make your relationship even closer.
2. Train cognitive development
Listening to fairy tales is also useful in stimulating the little one's brain to think and imagine. This is certainly very good in training intelligence and cognitive development during the growth period.
3. Improve verbal skills
Children who are often read fairy tales will have good verbal interaction skills, be it through writing, reading, or speaking. In fact, children who are often given fairy tales are also thought to have high IQ scores.
4. Expand vocabulary
Studies show that reading fairy tales with children can help them to know more vocabulary. In this way, children become more adept at conveying their wishes and feelings.
5. Improve math skills
Another study showed that children who often read fairy tales or who read together often had better math skills than the average child their age.
6. Take a lot of life lessons
Every fairy tale has a life lesson to be learned. This life lesson is very important for your little one to have as a provision for his future life. Not only that, fairy tales can also be the best medium for Mother to advise her.
The benefits of fairy tales for children are many. So, from now on try to regularly read fairy tales to your little one, Bun. To maximize the benefits of fairy tales, you also need to convey fairy tales well.
Some mothers may not be used to being a storyteller and may feel stiff when reading a story. If you feel this way, take it easy. The ability to read fairy tales can continue to grow, Bun. So, the most important thing is to start first.
Tips for Becoming a Good Storyteller
Being a storyteller is actually an easy thing, especially if it is done with pleasure. Here are tips to be a good storyteller for children:
- Take time only for your little one, so that you are not distracted by other things and can read story books smoothly.
- Choose books that can attract your little one's attention, such as books that are full of pictures and colorful, or according to his request.
- After seeing the design, choose a book with a story that has a moral message or life lesson.
- Make sure you know the story line so you can explore and convey the message smoothly to your little one.
- Tell stories with full expression so that your little one is enthusiastic about listening to fairy tales from Mother and also adjust the tone of your voice when explaining the storyline.
- Read stories while singing if necessary, to make this activity even more fun.
- Use your own words that are easy for your little one to understand. You don't need to 100 percent follow the words written in the book.
- Try to always have interactions, such as questions and answers, so that you and your little one can communicate both ways. In addition, you don't need to teach your little one to read or recognize letters because it can reduce his fun during storytelling activities.
By knowing the various benefits of fairy tales as described above, it is hoped that Mom and Dad can take the time to read fairy tales to their little ones as early as possible.
The recommended time for storytelling is before a nap or at bedtime, and it lasts about 10-15 minutes. However, if you have free time and are not tired, it's okay to spend more time reading fairy tales with your little one.
Now, there are many fairy tales available in the application gadgets or website. Although this seems more practical, you should still choose an ordinary story book. Use gadgets can arouse the little one's curiosity about the contents gadgets thereby increasing the risk of addiction gadgets in children.
When being read a fairy tale, the child should be responsive to the sound, movement, and touch of the mother. For example, the child will laugh when the mother uses a funny voice or follow the movement of the hand when the mother points to a picture.
The benefits of fairy tales for children can be felt optimally when children enjoy them and respond. If you feel your little one is unresponsive when the story is read or seems indifferent, you should check with a doctor so that the cause can be identified.