Stories For Kids: Different Ways Stories Help Your Child Grow

As children, we have grown up on the age-old stories of our grandparents and parents. From the comic tales of Akbar and Birbal to the moral stories of Panchatantra, one could hardly remember our childhood without these gemstones. What made them even more special was the cozy getup of the storytelling sessions we got to indulge in.

The advent of technological advancement has made these practices recede to the background. Social media and television keep the new generation away from the joys of reading and storytelling. Story time is one of the most precious moments that parents share with their child and should be retained at any cost.

Here are some of the benefits of reading stories for your kids.

How Stories for Kids Help in Building Parent-Child Relationship?

Kids, as they grow up tend to get more boisterous with age. These little powerhouses of energy are constantly on the move while exploring the world around them. Story time with parents helps your child to relax and spend some quality time with you. Rather than treating this time as a work engage your child and nurture their habit of reading.

How Reading Leads To Academic Excellence?

Reading is often linked to a higher aptitude for learning. Studies have shown that kids who are more exposed to reading are better equipped for academics. Reading helps your child to understand new words and ideas such as shape, size, color and other things. They also teach your kids about everyday tasks and lessons that they might need later in their life.

How Reading Leads to Increase In Confidence?

An increase in confidence levels has often been noticed in children who read. Their increased confidence level helps them to participate fully in activities. Children who can read well are more likely to have higher confidence levels. It helps your child to understand the people around them and how and where they fit in the vast world.

How Stories for Kids Develops Your Child’s Imagination?

Kids have the brightest and the most vivid imagination. Something that pales as we get older and become adults. To keep your child’s imaginative skills alive you should engage them in reading stories. Other than introducing new ideas, it also encourages them to imagine beyond the mundane.

How do Stories for Kids Help Children Cope With Their Feelings?

There are times when children find it difficult to express themselves. Reading stories with characters going through the same experience as they will help them to understand and accept their feelings. This makes your child aware that their feelings are normal and they should not be afraid to express themselves. Watching your child’s reaction to stories could help you to understand their emotions.

As you can see, children’s stories are important for your child’s development and growth. Though there are many stories for kids, the below mentioned stories are some of the ones you can include on your reading list.

Short Moral Stories for Kids

The Lion and the Mouse, The Cunning Fox and the Clever Stork, The Goose with the Golden Eggs, The Milkmaid and her Pail, The Ugly Duckling…Remember these tales? While the list of such stories might be endless, each one of us has read them in some format or another. Such short stories are a great way of getting your child in touch with their creative side. The fantastical creatures and worlds described in these stories help to develop imagination. It encourages your child to broaden their horizon and imagine beyond the given.

Most of these stories, read by generations of young children, impart age-old morals and wisdom. Reading them helps your child understand right from wrong. Many see these stories as a great source of important life lessons.  These stories for kids are so timeless that still many parents read them out to their children. Classics such as Aesop’s Fables and Panchatantra are a great way to introduce your kids to the wonderful world of words.

English Language Stories for kids

Globalization has made the world a much smaller space than it was before. With technological advancements, most of us are aware of the happenings in another part of the world. Literature is not beyond this phenomenon. One could hardly forget the intriguing world of the Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling that engaged readers across generations in its wizardry world, the loveable cast of animals in the children’s novel Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, the classic tale of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, and many others like them that have been reading staples for many generations.

Many good stories from around the world are now available to the new generation. Reading the English language to your kids is a great way of enhancing your child’s vocabulary. These stories help your child to understand English language and its nuances. You could start this habit by first starting with something that has fewer words and more pictures, before moving on to more complex books.

Hindi and Regional Language Stories for kids

Graduating from Panchatantra and Jataka Tales, I hit a roadblock when it came to exploring Indian literature. Being born and brought up in Delhi, away from my native place of West Bengal, had an effect on my mother tongue.

I hardly had any command over the language and reading the script was an impossible dream. My skills in the Hindi language were also something that I could not vouch for. But, this problem of mine was not something akin to me, many others like me were in the same boat.

With most kids going to English medium schools it is normal for them to feel disconnected from their roots. Reading stories in Hindi or other regional languages will ensure that your kids are aware of their culture and language. A regular reading practice will not only refine their vocabulary but also add onto it. To engage your child in reading such stories, pick ones that talk about morals and are thought-provoking.

Funny Stories For Kids

A good laugh is often a medicine for many ailments. Writers over the years have produced many stories that tickle our funny bone. As a kid, I remember rolling on the floor while reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney and James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. While moral stories were my usual staple, I remember reading these books and laughing out loud at the antics of the protagonists.

We live in a hectic and stressful world, which not only affects adults but also your children. To tackle this problem, it is always a good idea to invest in stories that see the lighter side of things. Engaging your child in laughing out loud will ensure that they are not burdened with stress. Reading funny stories will give them that much-needed relaxation.

As a young child, I remember my parents buying me books after books, whetting my appetite for books, even as I craved for more. My reading experience helped me to not only broaden my horizon but also gave me a glimpse of the different worlds and ideologies out there. Today’s generation not only finds information within their hands reach but also literature from across the world. With so many options in the market, parents should take some time out to engage them in the mind-boggling world of wonderful stories.

What kinds of stories and books did you read when you were young? Do let us know in the comments section along with your feedback.