We've been attending a Waldorf/Steiner playgroup for almost two years and it's changed my approach to parenting (more songs, easier transitions). I've noticed changes in Otto (4yrs) too. Now he sings and tells stories every day. After one week of going to playgroup, Otto started asking me to join him for storytime. Storytime with oral stories using toys and dolls, not stories from a book.

For his birthday last year, we gave Otto a felt mat and some felt animals like the ones he sees at the playgroup. He will set up his playmat with animals and props. We will sit on the floor together and using his animals and dolls he will tell a story. I know this is fantastic for his developing language skills and creativity. He is also learning the structure of a story, developing a start, middle and end and developing characters, character traits and a set/scenery. 

At every playgroup session, the playgroup leader tells a story with similar props. The stories are about people exploring nature and going on adventures. It has inspired me to try oral storytelling and to be more creative at home. Role modelling and experiencing oral stories are key to children creating stories of their own.

For children to tell stories, they must hear stories!

"Through the use of story, we can give our children powerful tools necessary to make sense of their lives. Stories offer our children examples of solutions for the difficulties they will encounter as they grow and develop."

"Not only does the realm of story help growing children make sense of their inner experience, it can help them understand the way the outer world works, as well." - Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children by Sharifa Oppenheimer. (A Waldorf parenting resource). 

What is the Montessori approach to storytelling? Storytelling is embedded in the Montessori method. Stories are told throughout the Montessori curriculum and are not limited to the Great Lessons. However oral storytelling isn't really promoted in Montessori parenting resources, in parenting resources oral storytelling barely gets a mention. The exception is in resources by Michael J. Dorer.

If you are interested in Montessori storytelling in the classroom or in the home, start with The Deep Well of Time: The Transformative Power of Storytelling in the Classroom by Michael J. Dorer. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It contains all you need to know including lots of stories, some are traditional Montessori and others are personal to Dorer, but all are appropriate for Montessori environments. 

Dorer gives seven reasons why we use stories:

1. Gift of the Memorable.
2. Holism - presenting the parts before the whole.
3. Development of listening skills (to listen carefully).
4. Development of literacy.
5. Engagement of the imagination.
6. Development of creativity.
7. Passing on culture.

"Stories have the power to illuminate, elucidate, motivate, spark creative imagination, and touch the sport of the children." 

Remember it may be a good thing to repeat stories! "Just as stories are meant to be heard again and again, so, too, is storytelling meant to be learned and improved upon with practice." 

"Stories, like all art, open our minds to the strange and wonderful world (and universe!) that surrounds us."

"Excellent stories for the Children's House level may be relatively short - perhaps the oral equivalent of just one or two paragraphs. These may include accounts of simple everyday events, autobiographical or biographical anecdotes, animal stories based on real animals or animal development, or stories from science. They may be fictional, but they should always have a sensorial foundation."  - The Deep Well of Time: The Transformative Power of Storytelling in the Classroom by Michael J. Dorer.

Further reading on Montessori storytelling:

• Storytelling in the Montessori Classroom at Chesapeake Montessori School.
• 7 Ways to Enhance Your Storytelling Skills at Trillium Montessori. These tips are good for parents and teachers!! 
• Create 4 Simple and Playful Storytelling for Kids Activities at Bright Little Owl. These are really brilliant ideas and a nice summary - please have a look, I'd suggest for 3-6yrs+.
  •  Picture story with photos.
  •  Draw a picture and tell a story.
  •  Retell a story with objects that go with a book.
  •  Storytelling basket with objects.

Sources: Our felt playmat was handmade by a friend (similar here). Felt animals from Hannari Crafts and The Green Beautiful. Wooden Fences. Ambrosius Dolls (AU). The Deep Well of Time: The Transformative Power of Storytelling in the Classroom by Michael J. Dorer (UK here). You may also like Hatching the Cosmic Egg by Michael J. Dorer.

The Deep Well of Time, Hatching the Cosmic Egg and The Cosmic Egg are available at Montessori Services. I cannot find an Australian supplier for Michael J. Dorer's resources (I bought ours in the UK). If you know a supplier please leave a link, it may help others. 

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