Why Stories Matter – The Joys and Benefits for Infants and Toddlers

Chapter 1 from Birckmayer, J., & Kennedy, A. (2008). From lullabies to literature: Stories in the lives of infants

and toddlers. Washington, DC: NAEYC.

Objectives• Identify the basic components of language and cognitive processes in

developing curriculum activities• Identify and plan developmentally appropriate curriculum activities

for infants and toddlers that enhance language and cognitive development.

The Role of Stories Across Domains• Stories help develop healthy attachment and relationships with

infants and toddlers• They provide language skills for communication and future reading

and writing (literacy) skills• Stories help children understand the world around them through

concept development, vocabulary, and positive interactions

What Constitutes a Story?• “events plus emotion” (p. 2)• Stories may be told or read• More involved stories may have the components of beginning,

middle, and end with characters, plots and settings, but those may not be appropriate for infants and toddlers.• Stories may be rhythmic in nature such as poems, songs and chants.• They may be formal or informal• For our purposes, stories encompass all the early language

experiences in which we engage the infants and toddlers in our care

Identifying Developmentally Appropriate Stories

• Pictures are important for storytelling, whether stories are oral or have text• Example: Family pictures at the infant or toddler’s eye level allow for many

spontaneous stories about the baby’s family.

• Simple rhymes and knee games promote language development and strengthen relationships• Example: Simple rhymes for younger babies. More complex rhymes can be

introduced for older toddlers.

• Books, pictures, stories that interest babies and toddlers• Example: Many babies love books with simple objects they begin to identify as they

gain skills. Toddlers may have a favorite book they want to hear over and over.

How Do We Offer Stories?• There is a wonderful chart on p. 4 of your text that describes a variety

of ways in which we share stories. Some examples include:• Everyday conversations• Singing songs• Oral traditions• Writing the stories they tell you• Encouraging dramatic play with props that support their play and interests• Providing a variety of books for the children to use independently• Reading with children• Allowing children to talk about the pictures they see in a book. Older toddlers

may even create their own story to go with the pictures.

Language and Cognitive Enrichment through Stories

• There are many suggestions for how stories enrich the lives of young children on pp. 4 & 5 in your text.• Can you provide an example of each of these suggestions that you

have experienced with a young child?• Can you add anything to the list of ways in which story telling has

enhanced and enriched the lives of the infants and toddlers in your care?• Which of the suggestions do you think is most important and why?• Which is the most difficult to do regularly and why?

Strengthening Relationships• Healthy attachments and bonding are crucial in positive development

in all an infant’s developmental domains • Read the many positive impacts that sharing stories with infants and

toddlers has on healthy relationships (pp. 6 & 7)• Can you add others?

Telling Stories Promotes Literacy Development• Literacy is “language in use”. • Literacy is social and reflects a community’s culture, values and beliefs.• Literacy promotes communication skills, both receptive and expressive• Literacy helps children understand the differences between formal and

informal language, the language of speaking and writing, and making meaning from various forms of language.• Experience (or lack of) with multiple forms of language, including written

language, has a direct correlation with a child’s later success with literacy

Review• Tell and read stories to small children to:• Enrich children’s lives• Develop positive relationships• Promote literacy development