National Storytelling Week: Chris Howard discusses reading with his cubs

Adventure-loving dad of three Chris Howard reflects on the power of storytelling and explains how he is fostering a love of reading in his cubs

Did you know that February is the month that plays host to National Storytelling Week, Children’s Mental Health Week and Random Acts of Kindness Day? These days it seems as though there’s a week or day for just about anything! However, I have to confess of all of them I quite like these three; who doesn’t love storytelling? It’s what makes us human and has been common practice since we blinked out of the cave and into the light. Children’s mental health, goes without saying; I’m fascinated by the development of our cubs and how we can ensure their wellbeing is in tiptop condition. And who can honestly admit to not liking a random act of kindness?! No one, nope, not on your Nelly the elephant.

When I explained these three awareness weeks to the cubs, I was met with varying degrees of response, from ‘oh, that’s nice’ as Thing Two shrugs and sets up the chess board, and ‘do we get a day off school?’ Thing One shrewdly enquires, to the sarcastically quizzical response ‘seriously? Seriously, Daddy?’ from Youngest Thing. So, I begin to wonder what all these things are good for and what purpose they really serve. Does anybody ever even engage with them beyond the far-more-aware walls of school? Of course they do, they must.

Storytelling is essential to learning, not just as children but for all of us; whether we read books, watch TV or listen to engrossing radio dramas, everywhere we are there’s a story unfolding before us. The famous ‘duff duff’ moments of our favourite shows keep us hanging with bated breath onto every soapy story arc. The Epic of Gilgamesh was written 5,000 years ago and is a story about friendship, and whilst far from my cubs’ book collection, the girl that speaks bear is just as important. Though Mog the depressed cat may not agree, I admit a deep fondness to The Tiger That Came To Tea.

We read with the cubs and talk about the things we read in general chit chat but even that broadens their minds. I sometimes worry our conversations about Shakespeare are too serious but we’re reassured by asking what they think or feel; cue hilarious replies! Thing One looks sternly across the table and flaps her arms, ‘like a duck! Quack, quack’, then between the laughter, Youngest Thing proudly proclaims ‘I just farted on my Father!’ ‘Well bloomin’ Shakesy P didn’t fart did he?’ I shout, knowing full well he did. ‘Depends Daddy, was it meant to be or not to be?’ Thing Two bursts into character as if addressing the fourth wall.

My heart melts; Thing Two has learnt comic timing approximately 30 years quicker than me. It’s truly amazing, watching Mufasa at the cinema recently or any film, the hero’s journey is embedded in our psyche as is tragedy, love and the battle between good and evil. The story themes are woven in from Homer’s Iliad right through to Russell T. Davies’ most recent Dr Who - we love it all; Daphnis and Chloe to the Daleks: Exterminate!

We tell stories every day to our children, even though they’re becoming slightly disinterested. We tell them stories about our lives before them (and memories of the past they never knew) in order to help them understand their present. We all do it, it’s an innate human trait that enables us to form our tribe and maintain our culture. We tell stories of ancestors they never knew and adventures long forgotten but equally we read them story books old and new to create a shared knowledge and history as a family, as a society, as a people! Wow, totally went global with that one, straight off the cuff (chortles quietly). Until next time dear readers. . . exits stage left.

Read more about Chris’s adventures at thecoastwalker.com