Traditional stories

[Gemini]

My younger grandson will be 3 in few weeks time. From an early age he loved books and stories, as most children do.
For several weeks now he has been obsessed with the stories of the 3 Little Pigs, The Gingerbread Man and the 3 Billy Goats Gruff. He has them all several times a day, and it doesn't matter if it is from a book or just told by one of us. I'm not sure if this obsession with the stories is from hearing them at nursery or at home.

He can easily tell the stories himself, and occasionally will.

With this is mind I painted him some story rocks. One rock each for pigs 1, 2 and 3, one for the wolf. I told the story to him with them a couple of times yesterday, and then he re-enacted it all himself
I suggested that they keep them to use with him, or for him to play with they are around at this age. I don't think having them in the playroom or his bedroom for him to get whenever he likes it too wise with rocks, not for a while yet

They were a great success and I forgot to photograph them! I will get DD to do so.

[Plantaholic]

What a good idea Gemini, I am sure he will always treasure those.

[Oma]

I remember making finger puppets from felt for the boys , they loved them when we told stories ,
A great favourite of our boys was Henny Penny , Foxy Loxy , Goosy Lucy etc the times we have read that book it was fraying at the edges and they knew if you missed one out

Its lovely when they can re tell the story themselves it shows they really listen , Do you do the voices too ? I know we had too and they had to be the same each time hahaha

[Gemini]

We do Oma

GS's pig voice has to be heard to be believed - as high and squeaky as it's possible to go!!

[Daisy]

There's something really special about the stage where they love the same story over and over again. Gem - you are a wonderful Grandma and so imaginative with your stories.

Yes, both our boys and our GCs expected 'voices' with their favourite stories. GD2 still does, although she's becoming quite an independent reader now and will often want to do the reading with just a bit of help for difficult words. My days of doing silly voices are nearly over.

[Sunshine]

I love the idea of painted rocks to tell stories. When I worked with nursery children I used to make story sacks of traditional stories. The children loved them. It encourages their speech and imagination. Well done Gem.

[Daisy]

Sunshine, I've never heard of story sacks! I'm imagining hessian potato sacks full of objects that are in a story, but I'm sure I'm wrong!!

[Clover]

I’d love to see your rocks Gem.

When My GD was small and I was working at the Primary school she wanted to hear stories about what the “naughty “ children did.It often wasn’t difficult to find suitable material.
Also I made her a little book about Donald the Clumsy Dinosaur which is still on her shelf.

[Gemini]

Daisy, we have Story Sacks at our library, and my Friends Group fund new ones.
It is a bag, usually with the story picture on the front. It contains the book and related toys. The Hungry Caterpillar could contain a caterpillar and butterfly and different play food. Gingerbread Man could have a toy gingerbread man fox, cow etc. Children love them and they add interest for the story teller too.

[Gemini]

Clover, my daughter took a photo and posted it on FB, so here it is!

[Clover]

They’re fabulous Gem You must have a very steady hand for such detail

[Daisy]

Gem - your Three Little Pigs rocks are brilliant (although I'm a bit worried they've lost their troosers!)

The story sacks must make stories come alive for little ones - what a fabulous idea. I wish I'd known about them when the GCs were younger.

[Sunshine]

I made story sacks that all my grandchildren enjoyed, also the nursery children that I taught. One of the favourites was ‘The very hungry caterpillar’ The children always seemed to think the cocoon was a potato though. I made the cocoon/potato by rolling up some newspaper into a sort of oval shape and wrapped brown parcel tape around it. I must admit, it did look more like a potato than a cocoon! I was encouraging their imaginations!!! I should have made another story of ‘Stone Soup’ then it could have been multi purpose cocoon/potato. Maybe that would have confused them totally. Oooo I loved those days. Bless their little hearts.

[Gemini]

Sunshine , I loved my playgroup/creche/infant school days too. There is something so lovely about a sea of little faces all intently listening to your story

[Daisy]

Sunshine and Gem - I bet you've both got lots of stories to tell about those days.