http://talltalesaudio.com/blog All About Storytelling Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:19:44 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Believe it or not, spinning yarns to your little ones can actually help boost their IQs! In one of the most interesting research studies of the past 15 years, child psychologists Betty Hart and Todd Risley investigated children’s language acquisition in 42 families with newborns. As reported in the article ... http://talltalesaudio.com/blog/2008/04/03/boost-your-child%e2%80%99s-iq-score-through-storytelling/ Finding time to tell stories to our children is not always as easy as we would like. Between school, soccer, piano lessons, or whatever else your child is involved in—not to mention our own work and home responsibilities—it can seem like there is no time to spin yarns. And when today’s ... http://talltalesaudio.com/blog/2008/03/07/making-time-for-storytelling/ When it’s wet or snowy outside, it’s easy for cooped-up parents and kids to get on each other’s nerves. What parent hasn’t heard the cry of “We’re bored—there’s nothing to do!” Luckily for you, I have a solution: storytelling theater. Next time kids (whether they’re all yours or some of them ... http://talltalesaudio.com/blog/2007/12/10/storytelling-theater/ Stories that feature your family pet (dog, cat, lizard, rabbit, bird, or fish) are bound to be popular with your child. Our own Clem the Detective Dog CD is based on a quirky family dog with a crooked tail and the intelligence and snoopiness of a private eye. But when ... http://talltalesaudio.com/blog/2007/12/03/storytelling-when-a-family-pet-dies/ It’s obvious that storytelling can help children develop better reading and verbal skills, and, if they tell stories themselves, self confidence. But better math skills? Who knew? Well for one, Daniela O'Neill and her colleagues at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. They found that preschoolers who can tell fairly sophisticated ... http://talltalesaudio.com/blog/2007/11/20/can-storytelling-help-your-child-with-math/ There are tons of Thanksgiving books for kids, whether you want traditional stories about the pilgrims or something lighter that features your child’s favorite character. Dora, Spot, Corduroy, Franklin, Charlie Brown, Clifford, Maisy, Arthur, The Berenstain Bears, My Little Pony – even The Little Engine That Could – star in ... http://talltalesaudio.com/blog/2007/11/15/thanksgiving-storytelling/ Getting a wee-bit tired of always being the storyteller? We all have those days when we’d just rather sit back and listen to a great tale than come up with one ourselves. Here’s an idea that may help. The next time you are feeling a little low on creative juices, ... http://talltalesaudio.com/blog/2007/11/07/motivate-your-little-storytellers/ Watching the baseball World Series recently, reminded me of my daughter’s childhood dream to become the first girl shortstop in the major leagues. Growing up, she played every ball-related sport she could get her hands or feet on, and she loved to watch Oakland A’s games on TV and at ... http://talltalesaudio.com/blog/2007/11/03/sports-in-storytelling/ Pressured by complaints from business travelers that families with small children were scooping up all the good seats before the first boarding group, Southwest Airlines recently changed their policy so families will now board between groups A and B. This markedly family-unfriendly switch is a surprising move by an airline ... http://talltalesaudio.com/blog/2007/10/31/make-the-skies-more-friendly-and-fun-younger-travelers/ Complicated Halloween costumes have never been my style—black jeans, a black t-shirt, and a devil’s ear headband are about par for my course. But luckily, creative get-ups are not the only way to shine on All Hallows Eve. After all, no Halloween party is complete without a good, old-fashioned, scary ... http://talltalesaudio.com/blog/2007/10/26/halloween-scary-story-special/