Engage Your Child’s Heart: How to Utilize the Power of Story

Engage Your Child’s Heart: Utilize the Power of Story

By Jeanne Gowen Dennis

Utilize the Power of Story

One of the ways parents can reinforce biblical thinking in their children is through story times. Story has power to change us at the heart level. When you cuddle with your children to tell a story, they are more receptive than usual to hearing what you have to say. They are also prone to open up and talk to you about what’s going on in their hearts and lives.

Engage the Heart

To engage children’s hearts, story times should be filled with various kinds of stories. Stories told from our biblical heritage. Secular stories that encourage biblical thinking. Classic tales that teach timeless morals and values and inspire the heroic in young hearts.

Telling good stories also helps to put truth filters into children’s minds and hearts. Some stories teach desirable lessons just as they are written. For example, the “Three Little Pigs” naturally teaches children not to trust wolves or people who act like the wolf in the story. It also encourages them to work hard and prepare ahead for possible trouble.

Others stories could use a little help. Good Night Moon is a sweet and comforting book all by itself. But why not add “Good night, God” and thank Him for everything in the story?

Is the Message Clear?

When you read or tell a story, try to be sensitive to whether or not the message of the story is clear and gives a complete and true message without any commentary from you. Children don’t like to be told the obvious, but sometimes they will want to explain the obvious to you. So let them talk.

I hope you will take some time to read to your children this summer. Enjoy reading together, and you’ll be amazed at how much they will enjoy and retain what they’ve heard. Especially if you let them talk about it.

I have included links to some resources for you. They are affiliate links that help can help keep Heritage of Truth online.

© Jeanne Gowen Dennis

Read Truth and the Power of Story.

Read about the movie Beyond the Mask, a good story.

Honey for a Child’s Heart Fourth Edition By Gladys HuntWholesome literature is important for building good character—and this newly updated guide will help you choose the best of the classics for preschoolers through teens. Drawing from a range of genres, including fantasy, biography, and poetry, Hunt offers a select list of books that will start your youngsters on the road to a lifetime of reading pleasure. 240 pages, softcover from Zondervan. Annotated list of books for ages 0-14.

Bible KidVentures Stories of Danger and Courage

Light Keepers: Ten Boys Who Made a Difference

Light Keepers: Ten Girls Who Made a Difference

Tiger and Tom and Other Stories for Boys 1910 edition

Choice Stories for Children

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