Storytellers

By Clare Ham Grosgebauer
published on web March 2004

"Once upon a time" children begged for bedtime stories told by a parent or grandparent. They listened to familiar tales and original family stories and were transported to magical places and times. "Once upon a time" children listened, then "saw" new worlds, imagined adventures, and dared to dream BIG ideas. Because of storytellers.

"Once upon a time" children's picture books were revered treasures in homes, shared with each generation and passed along with fingerprinted, jam-crusted, dog-eared signals of loving use. Parents and teachers read aloud to children for the sheer joy of sharing a tale and a special time together, and stories were loved because they were not designed merely to instruct. And "once upon a time" children remembered favorite stories and connected with them—because of storytellers.

"Once upon a time" there were gentle, wise storytelling visionaries with children's best interests at heart. These remarkable grown-ups kept their own child-heart alive, refusing to harden into the mold of "serious" adult perspectives, continually imagining a world united by common desires not just for peace and justice, but for beauty, joy, and fun. But what is the legacy today of visionaries such as "Dr. Seuss," "Mr. Rogers," and "Captain Kangaroo?"

The "once-upon-a-time" art of storytelling—is hardly recognizable today, for it has been swallowed up by the omnivorous "children's entertainment ['edu-tainment'] industry" encompassing books, toys, movies, TV programs, DVDs, video games, and more. And this multi-billion-dollar behemoth has become a monopolistic force—an aggressive multimedia blitz targeting children as consumers to be constantly amused, passively entertained, and, "virtually programmed" 24/7 –self-sufficient, but isolated from the reality of human interaction with a live storyteller/mentor. The ($109-million) "Cat in the Hat" movie, for example, boasts corporate support of 12 companies promoting over 40 brands, plus 75 more companies involved in manufacturing, licensing, and distributing.

"Once upon a time" has morphed into today's "pop culture" of an endless Google-ized stream of colorful digital images and sounds transforming how our children see the world--and also how and what they learn.

A recent study on electronic media use by children under age 6 (Kaiser Family Foundation, October 2003) found that 36% of kids ages 0-6 have a TV in their room; 70% of 4-6-year-olds have used a computer; and 68% of children under age 2 use "screen media" an average of 2 hours 5 minutes each day.

Where can you find a classic children's book today? Not likely in your local mall bookstore or toy store. You will find, however, the flashy "new" version of a familiar title or storybook characters in repackaged forms to tie-in with release of a new movie or DVD. (And your children will most likely lead you to displays of their favorite TV show characters, about whom books have been carefully created in order to sell more products.)

For the original storybook, try your local library—where "old" books are still cared for! And while you're there, treat yourself and your children to the library's "story hour." The performance will likely introduce characters and themes and stories that will outlive the latest pop fad. And more important, your children will get to interact with a live storyteller!

And what about the books your child will read in school? Today's school administrators and teachers are burdened with more rules, curriculum standards, evaluations, and assessments than ever before. And they are given less authority to provide lessons that may not fit within mandated program guidelines dictated by school boards and state/federal authorities. "Storytime" is a "once-upon-a-time" concept not often heard of in today's efficiency-driven, "teach-to-the-test," literacy-targeted schools. Schools have become "serious business"— there is precious little time for serendipity, ridiculousness, laughter, and fun!

(Dr. Seuss, we need you here! Surely you would interfere!)

But is "once upon a time" gone forever?

Not as long as there are STORYTELLERS!

Today's parents (and grandparents) need to step up to the plate: Share your "once-upon-a-time" stories and memories with your child! The Internet and new information technologies may be an alluring starting point for your child's destinations of the future, but parents and grandparents are the passports to exploring the enduring magic of "once upon a time."

Need help? Good news! Storytelling, as an art form, is alive and well. Last summer over 650 professional storytellers from all over the USA and some foreign countries, members of the National Storytelling Network, gathered in Chicago for their annual conference to share their expertise and learn from one another. These folks have a "calling" and enjoy their true livelihoods by crafting and performing tales of every sort — from personal stories, to classic myths, to multicultural folk tales, to humorous yarns, to "healing stories." They share their unique gifts 365 days a year, with audiences of all ages, in schools, libraries, bookstores, community centers, festivals, camps, day care centers, homeless shelters, hospitals, prisons, and many other venues. They are today's link to "once upon a time."

And the pay-off for today's kids is in the imagination/creativity that involvement in storytelling inspires in them. Children and their "big" ideas are to be valued and nurtured into wise action. Far from being passive consumers, children are thinkers and contributors. They are the "once upon a time" of the future!

"Reprinted with permission from Northern Virginia Parent."

Clare Ham Grosgebauer, a former kindergarten teacher, is an editor for a national arts education organization. She is the founder of www.snickerdoodleforkids.com, a website with creative writing/art activities for kids, plus resources for parents, teachers, and storytellers. It is dedicated to inspiring children to "think big"and realize they are never too small to make a difference in the world.