My children and their cousins love to pick the stories from the snappy titles, and keep asking me to read another one, and then another one… They have created ‘family-on-the-porch-time’!
I really want them to be considerate of others. The lesson is right in each story, so the children can’t help but think about it. The stories easily find a place in their memories. And because they are short, the younger ones can follow them easily.
Patricia Cieslar Mother of two children (aged 8 & 10 years) Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
I was so fed up with all the corrupt and immoral actions that so many traditional fairy tales trivialize and make acceptable … that I even stopped reading to my kid’s at bedtime – just because I didn’t want them to go to sleep with such nonsense as the last things on their minds’ each day.
Not only do my boys LOVE the stories, but the wonderful lessons they’ve learned from them are truly starting to show.
“It seems we only have a short window to have input into our kid’s characters … don’t miss it!”
If you are a parent who wants to have the smoothest possible character-development journey for your child, then this may be the most important letter you’ve ever read!
Coming from my nieces and nephews, this greeting never fails to make me melt! And I must admit I love the stories as much as they do! (Does anyone ever outgrow listening to a thrilling story? If you say ‘yes’ … I don’t believe it!)
They are “golden memories” … having a youngster pressing in close to you with wide, excited eyes, holding their breath in anticipation as you dramatize the words off the page … this definitely has to rank among the best of them! There’s nothing like chuckling and crying together over a good story.
I got to remembering … how I grew up with a mother who would share family stories around the dinner table most evenings – tales of Grandpa working as a bullock driver in the Australian bush … the interesting visitors who came to their farm … the colorful neighbors in the district … how she and Dad met!
At bed time, my parents would read me gripping true-to-life stories of people and their every day adventures.
The story books didn’t have many pictures … but I could see it all happening as the images cascaded through my mind – I could smell the bush, feel the wind on my face, taste the camp food, and imagine each of the characters in the story.
“My wife was the same … she too could remember the stories read to her as a child! It continues to amaze us just how powerful good stories are!”
There was always a vital message that went straight to my heart (even though I didn’t notice it at the time) – an ideal that I would want to have, or the character of a person that I would want to be like!
And then there are negative effects associated with excessive time spent playing computer games, which can become addictive and limit development of interpersonal skills.
I didn’t realise it at the time, but the stories my parents used to read to me from as early as I can remember were forming the characteristics of what’s called ‘me’ today! Sure, they carefully picked quality stories with punch … but they also had a powerful message.
It was only later I fully realized the consequences these word-painted-pictures could have on the “highly absorbent minds” of little kids … setting them up with the unlimited potential to become all they can be.
Yes … without even realising it, I had internalised those stories my parents read to me all those years ago. The principles in the stories gave me an internal compass that helped me successfully navigate the challenges life has thrown my way!
All the classic fairy tales are great … but where do you find ‘NOW’ stories that kids can imagine themselves in?
There are some fabulous authors around – but I found it difficult to locate stories with those ‘wholesome values’ my mother used to read to me all those years ago!
Believe it or not my search arrived at a surprisingly young mother of five, who manages a cleaning business … and who writes for a hobby!
I was astounded with the insight this young mother had. But maybe I shouldn’t have been so surprised, seeing she is immersed in bringing up five closely-spaced children!
Together we started working on this project … making available the sort of stories that would put an Internal Compass in children … that would set them up to Successfully Navigate the challenges that life throws at them.
The results astounded and thrilled us both, so now we are delighted to present to you these truly original, character-enhancing stories, that I know your kids are going to love!
Carly’s Wild Ride … (Unselfishness) – Carly never made it to the park to show off her new bike … but she was surprised to discover something even more exciting along the way!
Taking Sides … (Peer Pressure/Friendship) – New in the school, Hayley is under pressure. What’s it going to be … the most popular kid on the school ground, or loyal to her best friend? How does she handle it?
Just Kicking Rocks … (Bullying) – Freddy finally opens up to his favorite teacher at school and is relieved to find that it’s not his fault that the bigger boys always pick on him. Now he knows there is someone who will stand up for him.
The Night Meeting … (Trustworthy) – His stomach twitched at even the slightest night sound or cracking twig. Caleb regretted agreeing to deliver the mysterious envelope… but he hurried on knowing that Farmer Ted was relying on him. It wasn’t till the next day that he discovered just why this envelope was so important!
Gimme That Back! … (Getting along with…
- Kids Life Skill Stories
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