Engage Your Child’s Heart: Utilize the Power of Story
By Jeanne Gowen Dennis
Utilize the Power of Story
Do you realize the power story has to engage your children’s hearts? 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.
With Bible KidVentures: Stories of Danger and Courage you the reader are taken right into the middle of the action of your favorite Bible stories. In each story, you are the main character and what happens is completely up to you! Through your choices you can receive great rewards, get into big trouble, or even lose your life. It’s your turn to witness Bible history in action by entering the story and choosing your own path. The four stories included in this edition are: Deadly Exhibition, Trapped!, Attack!, and Escape!. Recommended for ages 10 to 14 years.To find links for all Heritage of Truth interviews and blog posts, go to TV and Blog by Topic or TV and Blog by Guest/Author.
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Honey for a Child’s Heart Updated and Expanded: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life By Gladys Hunt with Mark Hunt / ZondervanA modern classic with over 250,000 copies sold, Honey for a Child’s Heart is a compelling, essential guide for parents who want to find the best books for their children ages 0-12. This updated and expanded edition includes a new preface, an updated list of recommended reads for each age group, and audiobook suggestions. Illustrated with drawings from dozens of children’s favorites, Honey for a Child’s Heart Updated and Expanded includes completely updated book lists geared to your child’s age and filled with nearly one thousand longtime favorites, classics, wonderful new books, and audiobooks that will enrich your child’s life. It will also show you how to:
Thousands of parents have used this guide to furnish their children’s inner spirit with the wonder and delight of good reading. Updated and expanded to keep pace with the ever-changing world of children’s literature, it is sure to enrich the cultural and spiritual life of your home. 272 pages, softcover. |
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Light Keepers: Ten Boys Who Made a Difference |
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Light Keepers: Ten Girls Who Made a Difference |
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Tiger and Tom and Other Stories for Boys 1910 edition |
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Choice Stories for Children |