Stories that Travel
LP and I are newly back from a trip to the East Coast to visit a bevy of family. A really good time AND disorienting for LP in all the ways that you'd expect for a 2.5 year old away from Improvdad and home and routine.
Now I thought that making up stories together would fill hours of plane time but she was having none of it. She has figured out that plane trips are about all the mysterious snacks & toys in the huge backpack...an improv story is a good time but alas, cannot be wrapped up in tissue paper like a present. (Although one can give each other pretend presents but that's a game for slightly older kids...and a different post).
The time & place for improv stories was when LP needed comfort, when she was feeling overwhelmed and tired and missing home. AND the stories she desired were about familiar characters in familiar places doing ordinary things.
LP has a group of characters she likes to hear stories about. We often also sing songs about them too. I cannot remember the evolution of them but they are here to stay. So I introduce you to....the Guy and the Fly and the Noisy Cow. Since they are old favorites, I started to tell her a story about the three of them going to the backyard to play.
At the end of the story, she asked for another. I followed an impulse and asked her "same story or different story?" LP replied "same story!" and I told her the same little tale about the Guy and the Fly and the Noisy Cow playing in the backyard at least 4 times. Then the same repetition of story about the Guy and the Fly trying to wake up the Noisy Cow from a nap.
I love it when I am surprised by what stories can give us...in this case, the stories were a security blanket, a reminder of home and a way to connect and get grounded again.
Now I thought that making up stories together would fill hours of plane time but she was having none of it. She has figured out that plane trips are about all the mysterious snacks & toys in the huge backpack...an improv story is a good time but alas, cannot be wrapped up in tissue paper like a present. (Although one can give each other pretend presents but that's a game for slightly older kids...and a different post).
The time & place for improv stories was when LP needed comfort, when she was feeling overwhelmed and tired and missing home. AND the stories she desired were about familiar characters in familiar places doing ordinary things.
LP has a group of characters she likes to hear stories about. We often also sing songs about them too. I cannot remember the evolution of them but they are here to stay. So I introduce you to....the Guy and the Fly and the Noisy Cow. Since they are old favorites, I started to tell her a story about the three of them going to the backyard to play.
At the end of the story, she asked for another. I followed an impulse and asked her "same story or different story?" LP replied "same story!" and I told her the same little tale about the Guy and the Fly and the Noisy Cow playing in the backyard at least 4 times. Then the same repetition of story about the Guy and the Fly trying to wake up the Noisy Cow from a nap.
I love it when I am surprised by what stories can give us...in this case, the stories were a security blanket, a reminder of home and a way to connect and get grounded again.
Labels: improv, improv parenting, storytelling
posted by Susan at
2:39 PM
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